Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 8 sequences, vectors containing same, and uses therefor

ABSTRACT

Sequences of a serotype 8 adeno-associated virus and vectors and host cells containing these sequences are provided. Also described are methods of using such host cells and vectors in production of rAAV particles.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/899,500, filed Sep. 6, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/423,704, filed Apr. 25, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT/US02/33630, filed Nov. 12, 2002, which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/386,122, filed Jun. 5, 2002, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/377,133, filed May 1, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/341,151, filed Dec. 17, 2001.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with government support under Grant No. P30 DK 47757-09 awarded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and Grant No. P01 HL 59407-03 awarded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adeno-associated virus (AAV), a member of the Parvovirus family, is a small nonenveloped, icosahedral virus with single-stranded linear DNA genomes of 4.7 kilobases (kb) to 6 kb. AAV is assigned to the genus, Dependovirus, because the virus was discovered as a contaminant in purified adenovirus stocks. AAV's life cycle includes a latent phase at which AAV genomes, after infection, are site specifically integrated into host chromosomes and an infectious phase in which, following either adenovirus or herpes simplex virus infection, the integrated genomes are subsequently rescued, replicated, and packaged into infectious viruses. The properties of non-pathogenicity, broad host range of infectivity, including non-dividing cells, and potential site-specific chromosomal integration make AAV an attractive tool for gene transfer.

Recent studies suggest that AAV vectors may be the preferred vehicle for gene delivery. To date, there have been 6 different serotypes of AAVs isolated from human or non-human primates (NHP) and well characterized. Among them, human serotype 2 is the first AAV that was developed as a gene transfer vector; it has been widely used for efficient gene transfer experiments in different target tissues and animal models. Clinical trials of the experimental application of AAV2 based vectors to some human disease models are in progress, and include such diseases as cystic fibrosis and hemophilia B.

What are desirable are AAV-based constructs for gene delivery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides novel AAV sequences, compositions containing these sequences, and uses therefor. Advantageously, these compositions are particularly well suited for use in compositions requiring re-administration of rAAV for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.

These and other aspects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A through 1C are the nucleic acid sequences of the rep and cap regions of AAV8 [SEQ ID NO:1].

FIGS. 2A through 2C are the amino acid sequences of the AAV8 capsid vp1 protein [SEQ ID NO:2], provided in alignment with the vp1 of the published sequences of AAV2 [SEQ ID NO:4], AAV1 [SEQ ID NO:5], and AAV3 [SEQ ID NO:6], and newly identified AAV serotypes AAV7 [SEQ ID NO: 8] and AAV9 [SEQ ID NO:7]. The alignment was performed using the Clustal W program, with the number of AAV2 used for reference. Underlining and bold at the bottom sequence of the alignment indicates cassettes of identity. The dots in the alignment indicate that the amino acids are missing at the positions in the alignment as compared to AAV2 VP1.

FIGS. 3A through 3C are the amino acid sequences of the AAV8 rep proteins [SEQ ID NO:3].

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides the nucleic acid sequences and amino acids of a novel AAV serotype, AAV8. Also provided are fragments of these AAV sequences. Each of these fragments may be readily utilized in a variety of vector systems and host cells. Among desirable AAV8 fragments are the cap proteins, including the vp1, vp2, vp3 and hypervariable regions, the rep proteins, including rep 78, rep 68, rep 52, and rep 40, and the sequences encoding these proteins. These fragments may be readily utilized in a variety of vector systems and host cells. Such fragments may be used alone, in combination with other AAV8 sequences or fragments, or in combination with elements from other AAV or non-AAV viral sequences. In one particularly desirable embodiment, a vector contains the AAV8 cap and/or rep sequences of the invention.

The AAV8 sequences and fragments thereof are useful in production of rAAV, and are also useful as antisense delivery vectors, gene therapy vectors, or vaccine vectors. The invention further provides nucleic acid molecules, gene delivery vectors, and host cells which contain the AAV8 sequences of the invention.

Suitable fragments can be determined using the information provided herein. Alignments are performed using any of a variety of publicly or commercially available Multiple Sequence Alignment Programs, such as AClustal W≅, accessible through Web Servers on the internet. Alternatively, Vector NTI utilities are also used. There are also a number of algorithms known in the art which can be used to measure nucleotide sequence identity, including those contained in the programs described above. As another example, polynucleotide sequences can be compared using Fasta, a program in GCG Version 6.1. Fasta provides alignments and percent sequence identity of the regions of the best overlap between the query and search sequences. For instance, percent sequence identity between nucleic acid sequences can be determined using Fasta with its default parameters (a word size of 6 and the NOPAM factor for the scoring matrix) as provided in GCG Version 6.1, herein incorporated by reference. Similar programs are available for amino acid sequences, e.g., the “Clustal X” program. Generally, any of these programs are used at default settings, although one of skill in the art can alter these settings as needed. Alternatively, one of skill in the art can utilize another algorithm or computer program which provides at least the level of identity or alignment as that provided by the referenced algorithms and programs.

The term “substantial homology” or “substantial similarity,” when referring to a nucleic acid, or fragment thereof, indicates that, when optimally aligned with appropriate nucleotide insertions or deletions with another nucleic acid (or its complementary strand), there is nucleotide sequence identity in at least about 95 to 99% of the aligned sequences. Preferably, the homology is over full-length sequence, or an open reading frame thereof, or another suitable fragment which is at least 15 nucleotides in length. Examples of suitable fragments are described herein.

The term “substantial homology” or “substantial similarity,” when referring to amino acids or fragments thereof, indicates that, when optimally aligned with appropriate amino acid insertions or deletions with another amino acid (or its complementary strand), there is amino acid sequence identity in at least about 95 to 99% of the aligned sequences. Preferably, the homology is over full-length sequence, or a protein thereof, e.g., a cap protein, a rep protein, or a fragment thereof which is at least 8 amino acids, or more desirably, at least 15 amino acids in length. Examples of suitable fragments are described herein.

By the term “highly conserved” is meant at least 80% identity, preferably at least 90% identity, and more preferably, over 97% identity. Identity is readily determined by one of skill in the art by resort to algorithms and computer programs known by those of skill in the art.

The term “percent sequence identity” or “identical” in the context of nucleic acid sequences refers to the residues in the two sequences which are the same when aligned for maximum correspondence. The length of sequence identity comparison may be over the full-length of the genome, the full-length of a gene coding sequence, or a fragment of at least about 500 to 5000 nucleotides, is desired. However, identity among smaller fragments, e.g. of at least about nine nucleotides, usually at least about 20 to 24 nucleotides, at least about 28 to 32 nucleotides, at least about 36 or more nucleotides, may also be desired. Similarly, “percent sequence identity” may be readily determined for amino acid sequences, over the full-length of a protein, or a fragment thereof. Suitably, a fragment is at least about 8 amino acids in length, and may be up to about 700 amino acids. Examples of suitable fragments are described herein.

As described herein, the vectors of the invention containing the AAV capsid proteins of the invention are particularly well suited for use in applications in which the neutralizing antibodies diminish the effectiveness of other AAV serotype based vectors, as well as other viral vectors. The rAAV vectors of the invention are particularly advantageous in rAAV readministration and repeat gene therapy.

These and other embodiments and advantages of the invention are described in more detail below. As used throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprising” and “including” are inclusive of other components, elements, integers, steps and the like. Conversely, the term “consisting” and its variants are exclusive of other components, elements, integers, steps and the like.

I. MV Serotype 8 Sequences

A. Nucleic Acid Sequences

The AAV8 nucleic acid sequences of the invention include the DNA sequences of FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO: 1], which consists of 4396 nucleotides. The AAV8 nucleic acid sequences of the invention further encompass the strand which is complementary to FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO: 1], as well as the RNA and cDNA sequences corresponding to FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO: 1] and its complementary strand. Also included in the nucleic acid sequences of the invention are natural variants and engineered modifications of FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO: 1] and its complementary strand. Such modifications include, for example, labels which are known in the art, methylation, and substitution of one or more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with a degenerate nucleotide.

Further included in this invention are nucleic acid sequences which are greater than about 90%, more preferably at least about 95%, and most preferably at least about 98 to 99% identical or homologous to FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1].

Also included within the invention are fragments of FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO: 1], its complementary strand, cDNA and RNA complementary thereto. Suitable fragments are at least 15 nucleotides in length, and encompass functional fragments, i.e., fragments which are of biological interest. Such fragments include the sequences encoding the three variable proteins (vp) of the AAV8 capsid which are alternative splice variants: vp1[nt 2121 to 4335 of FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO:1]; vp2 [nt 2532 to 4335 of FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO:1]; and vp 3 [nt 2730 to 4335 of FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO:1]. Other suitable fragments of FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1], include the fragment which contains the start codon for the AAV8 capsid protein, and the fragments encoding the hypervariable regions of the vp1 capsid protein, which are described herein.

Still other fragments include those encoding the rep proteins, including rep 78 [initiation codon located at nt 227 of FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO:1], rep 68 [initiation codon located at nt 227 of FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO:1], rep 52 [initiation codon located at nt 905 of FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO: 1], and rep 40 [initiation codon located at nt 905 of FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO:1]. Other fragments of interest may include the AAV8 inverted terminal repeat which can be identified by the methods described herein, AAV P19 sequences, AAV8 P40 sequences, the rep binding site, and the terminal resolute site (TRS). Still other suitable fragments will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

In addition to including the nucleic acid sequences provided in the figures and Sequence Listing, the present invention includes nucleic acid molecules and sequences which are designed to express the amino acid sequences, proteins and peptides of the AAV serotypes of the invention. Thus, the invention includes nucleic acid sequences which encode the following novel AAV amino acid sequences and artificial AAV serotypes generated using these sequences and/or unique fragments thereof.

As used herein, artificial AAV serotypes include, without limitation, AAV with a non-naturally occurring capsid protein. Such an artificial capsid may be generated by any suitable technique, using a novel AAV sequence of the invention (e.g., a fragment of a vp1 capsid protein) in combination with heterologous sequences which may be obtained from another AAV serotype (known or novel), non-contiguous portions of the same AAV serotype, from a non-AAV viral source, or from a non-viral source. An artificial AAV serotype may be, without limitation, a chimeric AAV capsid, a recombinant AAV capsid, or a “humanized” AAV capsid.

B. AAV8 Amino Acid Sequences, Proteins and Peptides

The invention further provides proteins and fragments thereof which are encoded by the AAV8 nucleic acids of the invention, and AAV8 amino acids which are generated by other methods. The invention further encompasses AAV serotypes generated using sequences of the novel AAV serotype of the invention, which are generated using synthetic, recombinant or other techniques known to those of skill in the art. The invention is not limited to novel AAV amino acid sequences, peptides and proteins expressed from the novel AAV nucleic acid sequences of the invention and encompasses amino acid sequences, peptides and proteins generated by other methods known in the art, including, e.g., by chemical synthesis, by other synthetic techniques, or by other methods. For example, the sequences of any of be readily generated using a variety of techniques.

Suitable production techniques are well known to those of skill in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). Alternatively, peptides can also be synthesized by the well known solid phase peptide synthesis methods (Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149 (1962); Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (Freeman, San Francisco, 1969) pp. 27-62). These and other suitable production methods are within the knowledge of those of skill in the art and are not a limitation of the present invention.

Particularly desirable proteins include the AAV capsid proteins, which are encoded by the nucleotide sequences identified above. The AAV capsid is composed of three proteins, vp1, vp2 and vp3, which are alternative splice variants. The full-length sequence provided in FIG. 2 is that of vp1. The AAV8 capsid proteins include vp1[aa 1 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2], vp2 [aa 138 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2], and vp3 [aa 203 to 737 of SEQ ID NO: 2] and functional fragments thereof. Other desirable fragments of the capsid protein include the constant and variable regions, located between hypervariable regions (HPV). Other desirable fragments of the capsid protein include the HPV themselves.

An algorithm developed to determine areas of sequence divergence in AAV2 has yielded 12 hypervariable regions (HVR) of which 5 overlap or are part of the four previously described variable regions. [Chiorini et al, J. Virol, 73:1309-19 (1999); Rutledge et al, J. Virol., 72:309-319] Using this algorithm and/or the alignment techniques described herein, the HVR of the novel AAV serotypes are determined. For example, with respect to the number of the AAV2 vp1[SEQ ID NO:4], the HVR are located as follows: HVR1, aa 146-152; HVR2, aa 182-186; HVR3, aa 262-264; HVR4, aa 381-383; HVR5, aa 450-474; HVR6, aa 490-495; HVR7, aa 500-504; HVR8, aa 514-522; HVR9, aa 534-555; HVR10, aa 581-594; HVR11, aa 658-667; and HVR12, aa 705-719. Using the alignment provided herein performed using the Clustal X program at default settings, or using other commercially or publicly available alignment programs at default settings, one of skill in the art can readily determine corresponding fragments of the novel AAV capsids of the invention.

Still other desirable fragments of the AAV8 capsid protein include amino acids 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 199 to 259; amino acids 274 to 446; amino acids 603 to 659; amino acids 670 to 706; amino acids 724 to 736 of SEQ ID NO:2; aa 185-198; aa 260-273; aa 447-477; aa 495-602; aa 660-669; and aa 707-723. Additionally, examples of other suitable fragments of AAV capsids include, with respect to the numbering of AAV2 [SEQ ID NO:4], aa 24-42, aa 25-28; aa 81-85; aa133-165; aa 134-165; aa 137-143; aa 154-156; aa 194-208; aa 261-274; aa 262-274; aa 171-173; aa 413-417; aa 449-478; aa 494-525; aa 534-571; aa 581-601; aa 660-671; aa 709-723. Still other desirable fragments include, for example, in AAV7, amino acids 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO:2, amino acids 199 to 259; amino acids 274 to 446; amino acids 603 to 659; amino acids 670 to 706; amino acids 724 to 736; aa 185 to 198; aa 260 to 273; aa447 to 477; aa495 to 602; aa660 to 669; and aa707 to 723. Using the alignment provided herein performed using the Clustal X program at default settings, or using other commercially or publicly available alignment programs at default settings, one of skill in the art can readily determine corresponding fragments of the novel AAV capsids of the invention.

Still other desirable AAV8 proteins include the rep proteins include rep68/78 and rep40/52 [located within aa 1 to 625 of SEQ ID NO: 3]. Suitable fragments of the rep proteins may include aa 1 to 102; aa 103 to 140; aa 141 to 173; aa 174 to 226; aa 227 to 275; aa 276 to 374; aa 375 to 383; aa 384 to 446; aa 447 to 542; aa 543 to 555; aa 556 to 625, of SEQ ID NO: 3.

Suitably, fragments are at least 8 amino acids in length. However, fragments of other desired lengths may be readily utilized. Such fragments may be produced recombinantly or by other suitable means, e.g., chemical synthesis.

The invention further provides other AAV8 sequences which are identified using the sequence information provided herein. For example, given the AAV8 sequences provided herein, infectious AAV8 may be isolated using genome walking technology (Siebert et al., 1995, Nucleic Acid Research, 23:1087-1088, Friezner-Degen et al., 1986, J. Biol. Chem. 261:6972-6985, BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Genome walking is particularly well suited for identifying and isolating the sequences adjacent to the novel sequences identified according to the method of the invention. This technique is also useful for isolating inverted terminal repeat (ITRs) of the novel AAV8 serotype, based upon the novel AAV capsid and rep sequences provided herein.

The sequences, proteins, and fragments of the invention may be produced by any suitable means, including recombinant production, chemical synthesis, or other synthetic means. Such production methods are within the knowledge of those of skill in the art and are not a limitation of the present invention.

IV. Production of rAAV with AAV8 Capsids

The invention encompasses novel, wild-type AAV8, the sequences of which are free of DNA and/or cellular material with these viruses are associated in nature. In another aspect, the present invention provides molecules which utilize the novel AAV sequences of the invention, including fragments thereof, for production of molecules useful in delivery of a heterologous gene or other nucleic acid sequences to a target cell.

In another aspect, the present invention provides molecules which utilize the AAV8 sequences of the invention, including fragments thereof, for production of viral vectors useful in delivery of a heterologous gene or other nucleic acid sequences to a target cell.

The molecules of the invention which contain AAV8 sequences include any genetic element (vector) which may be delivered to a host cell, e.g., naked DNA, a plasmid, phage, transposon, cosmid, episome, a protein in a non-viral delivery vehicle (e.g., a lipid-based carrier), virus, etc. which transfer the sequences carried thereon. The selected vector may be delivered by any suitable method, including transfection, electroporation, liposome delivery, membrane fusion techniques, high velocity DNA-coated pellets, viral infection and protoplast fusion. The methods used to construct any embodiment of this invention are known to those with skill in nucleic acid manipulation and include genetic engineering, recombinant engineering, and synthetic techniques. See, e.g., Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

In one embodiment, the vectors of the invention contain, at a minimum, sequences encoding an AAV8 capsid or a fragment thereof. In another embodiment, the vectors of the invention contain, at a minimum, sequences encoding an AAV8 rep protein or a fragment thereof. Optionally, such vectors may contain both AAV cap and rep proteins. In vectors in which both AAV rep and cap are provides, the AAV rep and AAV cap sequences can both be of AAV8 origin. Alternatively, the present invention provides vectors in which the rep sequences are from an AAV serotype which differs from that which is providing the cap sequences. In one embodiment, the rep and cap sequences are expressed from separate sources (e.g., separate vectors, or a host cell and a vector). In another embodiment, these rep sequences are fused in frame to cap sequences of a different AAV serotype to form a chimeric AAV vector. Optionally, the vectors of the invention further contain a minigene comprising a selected transgene which is flanked by AAV 5′ ITR and AAV 3′ ITR.

Thus, in one embodiment, the vectors described herein contain nucleic acid sequences encoding an intact AAV capsid which may be from a single AAV serotype (e.g., AAV8). Such a capsid may comprise amino acids 1 to 738 of SEQ ID NO:2. Alternatively, these vectors contain sequences encoding artificial capsids which contain one or more fragments of the AAV8 capsid fused to heterologous AAV or non-AAV capsid proteins (or fragments thereof). These artificial capsid proteins are selected from non-contiguous portions of the AAV8 capsid or from capsids of other AAV serotypes. For example, a rAAV may have a capsid protein comprising one or more of the AAV8 capsid regions selected from the vp2 and/or vp3, or from vp 1, or fragments thereof selected from amino acids 1 to 184, amino acids 199 to 259; amino acids 274 to 446; amino acids 603 to 659; amino acids 670 to 706; amino acids 724 to 738 of the AAV8 capsid, SEQ ID NO: 2. In another example, it may be desirable to alter the start codon of the vp3 protein to GTG. Alternatively, the rAAV may contain one or more of the AAV serotype 8 capsid protein hypervariable regions which are identified herein, or other fragment including, without limitation, aa 185-198; aa 260-273; aa447-477; aa495-602; aa660-669; and aa707-723 of the AAV8 capsid. See, SEQ ID NO: 2. These modifications may be to increase expression, yield, and/or to improve purification in the selected expression systems, or for another desired purpose (e.g., to change tropism or alter neutralizing antibody epitopes).

The vectors described herein, e.g., a plasmid, are useful for a variety of purposes, but are particularly well suited for use in production of a rAAV containing a capsid comprising AAV sequences or a fragment thereof. These vectors, including rAAV, their elements, construction, and uses are described in detail herein.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method of generating a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) having an AAV serotype 8 capsid, or a portion thereof. Such a method involves culturing a host cell which contains a nucleic acid sequence encoding an adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 8 capsid protein, or fragment thereof, as defined herein; a functional rep gene; a minigene composed of, at a minimum, AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) and a transgene; and sufficient helper functions to permit packaging of the minigene into the AAV8 capsid protein.

The components required to be cultured in the host cell to package an AAV minigene in an AAV capsid may be provided to the host cell in trans. Alternatively, any one or more of the required components (e.g., minigene, rep sequences, cap sequences, and/or helper functions) may be provided by a stable host cell which has been engineered to contain one or more of the required components using methods known to those of skill in the art. Most suitably, such a stable host cell will contain the required component(s) under the control of an inducible promoter. However, the required component(s) may be under the control of a constitutive promoter. Examples of suitable inducible and constitutive promoters are provided herein, in the discussion of regulatory elements suitable for use with the transgene. In still another alternative, a selected stable host cell may contain selected component(s) under the control of a constitutive promoter and other selected component(s) under the control of one or more inducible promoters. For example, a stable host cell may be generated which is derived from 293 cells (which contain E1 helper functions under the control of a constitutive promoter), but which contains the rep and/or cap proteins under the control of inducible promoters. Still other stable host cells may be generated by one of skill in the art.

The minigene, rep sequences, cap sequences, and helper functions required for producing the rAAV of the invention may be delivered to the packaging host cell in the form of any genetic element which transfer the sequences carried thereon. The selected genetic element may be delivered by any suitable method, including those described herein. The methods used to construct any embodiment of this invention are known to those with skill in nucleic acid manipulation and include genetic engineering, recombinant engineering, and synthetic techniques. See, e.g., Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. Similarly, methods of generating rAAV virions are well known and the selection of a suitable method is not a limitation on the present invention. See, e.g., K. Fisher et al, J. Virol., 70:520-532 (1993) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,745.

Unless otherwise specified, the AAV ITRs, and other selected AAV components described herein, may be readily selected from among any AAV serotype, including, without limitation, AAV1, AAV2, AAV3, AAV4, AAV5, AAV6, AAV7, AAV9 and the novel serotype of the invention, AAV8. These ITRs or other AAV components may be readily isolated using techniques available to those of skill in the art from an AAV serotype. Such AAV may be isolated or obtained from academic, commercial, or public sources (e.g., the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va.). Alternatively, the AAV sequences may be obtained through synthetic or other suitable means by reference to published sequences such as are available in the literature or in databases such as, e.g., GenBank, PubMed, or the like.

A. The Minigene

The minigene is composed of, at a minimum, a transgene and its regulatory sequences, and 5′ and 3′ AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). In one desirable embodiment, the ITRs of AAV serotype 2 are used. However, ITRs from other suitable serotypes may be selected. It is this minigene which is packaged into a capsid protein and delivered to a selected host cell.

1. The Transgene

The transgene is a nucleic acid sequence, heterologous to the vector sequences flanking the transgene, which encodes a polypeptide, protein, or other product, of interest. The nucleic acid coding sequence is operatively linked to regulatory components in a manner which permits transgene transcription, translation, and/or expression in a host cell.

The composition of the transgene sequence will depend upon the use to which the resulting vector will be put. For example, one type of transgene sequence includes a reporter sequence, which upon expression produces a detectable signal. Such reporter sequences include, without limitation, DNA sequences encoding β-lactamase, β-galactosidase (LacZ), alkaline phosphatase, thymidine kinase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), luciferase, membrane bound proteins including, for example, CD2, CD4, CD8, the influenza hemagglutinin protein, and others well known in the art, to which high affinity antibodies directed thereto exist or can be produced by conventional means, and fusion proteins comprising a membrane bound protein appropriately fused to an antigen tag domain from, among others, hemagglutinin or Myc.

These coding sequences, when associated with regulatory elements which drive their expression, provide signals detectable by conventional means, including enzymatic, radiographic, colorimetric, fluorescence or other spectrographic assays, fluorescent activating cell sorting assays and immunological assays, including enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunohistochemistry. For example, where the marker sequence is the LacZ gene, the presence of the vector carrying the signal is detected by assays for beta-galactosidase activity. Where the transgene is green fluorescent protein or luciferase, the vector carrying the signal may be measured visually by color or light production in a luminometer.

However, desirably, the transgene is a non-marker sequence encoding a product which is useful in biology and medicine, such as proteins, peptides, RNA, enzymes, dominant negative mutants, or catalytic RNAs. Desirable RNA molecules include tRNA, dsRNA, ribosomal RNA, catalytic RNAs, siRNA, small hairpin RNA, trans-splicing RNA, and antisense RNAs. One example of a useful RNA sequence is a sequence which inhibits or extinguishes expression of a targeted nucleic acid sequence in the treated animal. Typically, suitable target sequences in include oncologic targets and viral diseases. See, for examples of such targets the oncologic targets and viruses identified below in the section relating to immunogens.

The transgene may be used to correct or ameliorate gene deficiencies, which may include deficiencies in which normal genes are expressed at less than normal levels or deficiencies in which the functional gene product is not expressed. A preferred type of transgene sequence encodes a therapeutic protein or polypeptide which is expressed in a host cell. The invention further includes using multiple transgenes, e.g., to correct or ameliorate a gene defect caused by a multi-subunit protein. In certain situations, a different transgene may be used to encode each subunit of a protein, or to encode different peptides or proteins. This is desirable when the size of the DNA encoding the protein subunit is large, e.g., for an immunoglobulin, the platelet-derived growth factor, or a dystrophin protein. In order for the cell to produce the multi-subunit protein, a cell is infected with the recombinant virus containing each of the different subunits. Alternatively, different subunits of a protein may be encoded by the same transgene. In this case, a single transgene includes the DNA encoding each of the subunits, with the DNA for each subunit separated by an internal ribozyme entry site (IRES). This is desirable when the size of the DNA encoding each of the subunits is small, e.g., the total size of the DNA encoding the subunits and the IRES is less than five kilobases. As an alternative to an IRES, the DNA may be separated by sequences encoding a 2A peptide, which self-cleaves in a post-translational event. See, e.g., M. L. Donnelly, et al, J. Gen. Virol., 78(Pt 1):13-21 (January 1997); Furler, S., et al, Gene Ther., 8(11):864-873 (June 2001); Klump H., et al., Gene Ther., 8(10):811-817 (May 2001). This 2A peptide is significantly smaller than an IRES, making it well suited for use when space is a limiting factor. More often, when the transgene is large, consists of multi-subunits, or two transgenes are co-delivered, rAAV carrying the desired transgene(s) or subunits are co-administered to allow them to concatamerize in vivo to form a single vector genome. In such an embodiment, a first AAV may carry an expression cassette which expresses a single transgene and a second AAV may carry an expression cassette which expresses a different transgene for co-expression in the host cell. However, the selected transgene may encode any biologically active product or other product, e.g., a product desirable for study.

Suitable transgenes may be readily selected by one of skill in the art. The selection of the transgene is not considered to be a limitation of this invention.

2. Regulatory Elements

In addition to the major elements identified above for the minigene, the vector also includes conventional control elements which are operably linked to the transgene in a manner which permits its transcription, translation and/or expression in a cell transfected with the plasmid vector or infected with the virus produced by the invention. As used herein, “operably linked” sequences include both expression control sequences that are contiguous with the gene of interest and expression control sequences that act in trans or at a distance to control the gene of interest.

Expression control sequences include appropriate transcription initiation, termination, promoter and enhancer sequences; efficient RNA processing signals such as splicing and polyadenylation (polyA) signals; sequences that stabilize cytoplasmic mRNA; sequences that enhance translation efficiency (i.e., Kozak consensus sequence); sequences that enhance protein stability; and when desired, sequences that enhance secretion of the encoded product. A great number of expression control sequences, including promoters which are native, constitutive, inducible and/or tissue-specific, are known in the art and may be utilized.

Examples of constitutive promoters include, without limitation, the retroviral Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) LTR promoter (optionally with the RSV enhancer), the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (optionally with the CMV enhancer) [see, e.g., Boshart et al, Cell, 41:521-530 (1985)], the SV40 promoter, the dihydrofolate reductase promoter, the m-actin promoter, the phosphoglycerol kinase (PGK) promoter, and the EF1 promoter [Invitrogen]. Inducible promoters allow regulation of gene expression and can be regulated by exogenously supplied compounds, environmental factors such as temperature, or the presence of a specific physiological state, e.g., acute phase, a particular differentiation state of the cell, or in replicating cells only. Inducible promoters and inducible systems are available from a variety of commercial sources, including, without limitation, Invitrogen, Clontech and Ariad. Many other systems have been described and can be readily selected by one of skill in the art. Examples of inducible promoters regulated by exogenously supplied compounds, include, the zinc-inducible sheep metallothionine (MT) promoter, the dexamethasone (Dex)-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter, the T7 polymerase promoter system [WO 98/10088]; the ecdysone insect promoter [No et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:3346-3351 (1996)], the tetracycline-repressible system [Gossen et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:5547-5551 (1992)], the tetracycline-inducible system [Gossen et al, Science, 268:1766-1769 (1995), see also Harvey et al, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol., 2:512-518 (1998)], the RU486-inducible system [Wang et al, Nat. Biotech., 15:239-243 (1997) and Wang et al, Gene Ther., 4:432-441 (1997)] and the rapamycin-inducible system [Magari et al, J. Clin. Invest., 100:2865-2872 (1997)]. Other types of inducible promoters which may be useful in this context are those which are regulated by a specific physiological state, e.g., temperature, acute phase, a particular differentiation state of the cell, or in replicating cells only.

In another embodiment, the native promoter for the transgene will be used. The native promoter may be preferred when it is desired that expression of the transgene should mimic the native expression. The native promoter may be used when expression of the transgene must be regulated temporally or developmentally, or in a tissue-specific manner, or in response to specific transcriptional stimuli. In a further embodiment, other native expression control elements, such as enhancer elements, polyadenylation sites or Kozak consensus sequences may also be used to mimic the native expression.

Another embodiment of the transgene includes a gene operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter. For instance, if expression in skeletal muscle is desired, a promoter active in muscle should be used. These include the promoters from genes encoding skeletal β-actin, myosin light chain 2A, dystrophin, muscle creatine kinase, as well as synthetic muscle promoters with activities higher than naturally-occurring promoters (see Li et al., Nat. Biotech., 17:241-245 (1999)). Examples of promoters that are tissue-specific are known for liver (albumin, Miyatake et al., J. Virol., 71:5124-32 (1997); hepatitis B virus core promoter, Sandig et al., Gene Ther., 3:1002-9 (1996); alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Arbuthnot et al., Hum. Gene Ther., 7:1503-14 (1996)), bone osteocalcin (Stein et al., Mol. Biol. Rep., 24:185-96 (1997)); bone sialoprotein (Chen et al., J Bone Miner. Res., 11:654-64 (1996)), lymphocytes (CD2, Hansal et al., J. Immunol., 161:1063-8 (1998); immunoglobulin heavy chain; T cell receptor chain), neuronal such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter (Andersen et al., Cell. Mol. Neurobiol., 13:503-15 (1993)), neurofilament light-chain gene (Piccioli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:5611-5 (1991)), and the neuron-specific vgf gene (Piccioli et al., Neuron, 15:373-84 (1995)), among others.

Optionally, plasmids carrying therapeutically useful transgenes may also include selectable markers or reporter genes may include sequences encoding geneticin, hygromicin or purimycin resistance, among others. Such selectable reporters or marker genes (preferably located outside the viral genome to be rescued by the method of the invention) can be used to signal the presence of the plasmids in bacterial cells, such as ampicillin resistance. Other components of the plasmid may include an origin of replication. Selection of these and other promoters and vector elements are conventional and many such sequences are available [see, e.g., Sambrook et al, and references cited therein].

The combination of the transgene, promoter/enhancer, and 5′ and 3′ ITRs is referred to as a “minigene” for ease of reference herein. Provided with the teachings of this invention, the design of such a minigene can be made by resort to conventional techniques.

3. Delivery of the Minigene to a Packaging Host Cell

The minigene can be carried on any suitable vector, e.g., a plasmid, which is delivered to a host cell. The plasmids useful in this invention may be engineered such that they are suitable for replication and, optionally, integration in prokaryotic cells, mammalian cells, or both. These plasmids (or other vectors carrying the 5′ AAV ITR-heterologous molecule-3′ITR) contain sequences permitting replication of the minigene in eukaryotes and/or prokaryotes and selection markers for these systems. Selectable markers or reporter genes may include sequences encoding geneticin, hygromicin or purimycin resistance, among others. The plasmids may also contain certain selectable reporters or marker genes that can be used to signal the presence of the vector in bacterial cells, such as ampicillin resistance. Other components of the plasmid may include an origin of replication and an amplicon, such as the amplicon system employing the Epstein Barr virus nuclear antigen. This amplicon system, or other similar amplicon components permit high copy episomal replication in the cells. Preferably, the molecule carrying the minigene is transfected into the cell, where it may exist transiently. Alternatively, the minigene (carrying the 5′ AAV ITR-heterologous molecule-3′ ITR) may be stably integrated into the genome of the host cell, either chromosomally or as an episome. In certain embodiments, the minigene may be present in multiple copies, optionally in head-to-head, head-to-tail, or tail-to-tail concatamers. Suitable transfection techniques are known and may readily be utilized to deliver the minigene to the host cell.

Generally, when delivering the vector comprising the minigene by transfection, the vector is delivered in an amount from about 5 μg to about 100 μg DNA, about 10 to about 50 μg DNA to about 1×10⁴ cells to about 1×10¹³ cells, or about 10⁵ cells. However, the relative amounts of vector DNA to host cells may be adjusted, taking into consideration such factors as the selected vector, the delivery method and the host cells selected.

B. Rep and Cap Sequences

In addition to the minigene, the host cell contains the sequences which drive expression of the AAV8 capsid protein (or a capsid protein comprising a fragment of the AAV8 capsid) in the host cell and rep sequences of the same serotype as the serotype of the AAV ITRs found in the minigene, or a cross-complementing serotype. The AAV cap and rep sequences may be independently obtained from an AAV source as described above and may be introduced into the host cell in any manner known to one in the art as described above. Additionally, when pseudotyping an AAV vector in an AAV8 capsid, the sequences encoding each of the essential rep proteins may be supplied by AAV8, or the sequences encoding the rep proteins may be supplied by different AAV serotypes (e.g., AAV1, AAV2, AAV3, AAV4, AAV5, AAV6, AAV7, AAV9). For example, the rep78/68 sequences may be from AAV2, whereas the rep52/40 sequences may be from AAV8.

In one embodiment, the host cell stably contains the capsid protein under the control of a suitable promoter, such as those described above. Most desirably, in this embodiment, the capsid protein is expressed under the control of an inducible promoter. In another embodiment, the capsid protein is supplied to the host cell in trans. When delivered to the host cell in trans, the capsid protein may be delivered via a plasmid which contains the sequences necessary to direct expression of the selected capsid protein in the host cell. Most desirably, when delivered to the host cell in trans, the plasmid carrying the capsid protein also carries other sequences required for packaging the rAAV, e.g., the rep sequences.

In another embodiment, the host cell stably contains the rep sequences under the control of a suitable promoter, such as those described above. Most desirably, in this embodiment, the essential rep proteins are expressed under the control of an inducible promoter. In another embodiment, the rep proteins are supplied to the host cell in trans. When delivered to the host cell in trans, the rep proteins may be delivered via a plasmid which contains the sequences necessary to direct expression of the selected rep proteins in the host cell. Most desirably, when delivered to the host cell in trans, the plasmid carrying the capsid protein also carries other sequences required for packaging the rAAV, e.g., the rep and cap sequences.

Thus, in one embodiment, the rep and cap sequences may be transfected into the host cell on a single nucleic acid molecule and exist stably in the cell as an episome. In another embodiment, the rep and cap sequences are stably integrated into the chromosome of the cell. Another embodiment has the rep and cap sequences transiently expressed in the host cell. For example, a useful nucleic acid molecule for such transfection comprises, from 5′ to 3′, a promoter, an optional spacer interposed between the promoter and the start site of the rep gene sequence, an AAV rep gene sequence, and an AAV cap gene sequence.

Optionally, the rep and/or cap sequences may be supplied on a vector that contains other DNA sequences that are to be introduced into the host cells. For instance, the vector may contain the rAAV construct comprising the minigene. The vector may comprise one or more of the genes encoding the helper functions, e.g., the adenoviral proteins E1, E2a, and E4ORF6, and the gene for VAI RNA.

Preferably, the promoter used in this construct may be any of the constitutive, inducible or native promoters known to one of skill in the art or as discussed above. In one embodiment, an AAV P5 promoter sequence is employed. The selection of the AAV to provide any of these sequences does not limit the invention.

In another preferred embodiment, the promoter for rep is an inducible promoter, such as are discussed above in connection with the transgene regulatory elements. One preferred promoter for rep expression is the T7 promoter. The vector comprising the rep gene regulated by the T7 promoter and the cap gene, is transfected or transformed into a cell which either constitutively or inducibly expresses the T7 polymerase. See WO 98/10088, published Mar. 12, 1998.

The spacer is an optional element in the design of the vector. The spacer is a DNA sequence interposed between the promoter and the rep gene ATG start site. The spacer may have any desired design; that is, it may be a random sequence of nucleotides, or alternatively, it may encode a gene product, such as a marker gene. The spacer may contain genes which typically incorporate start/stop and polyA sites. The spacer may be a non-coding DNA sequence from a prokaryote or eukaryote, a repetitive non-coding sequence, a coding sequence without transcriptional controls or a coding sequence with transcriptional controls. Two exemplary sources of spacer sequences are the phage ladder sequences or yeast ladder sequences, which are available commercially, e.g., from Gibco or Invitrogen, among others. The spacer may be of any size sufficient to reduce expression of the rep78 and rep68 gene products, leaving the rep52, rep40 and cap gene products expressed at normal levels. The length of the spacer may therefore range from about 10 bp to about 10.0 kbp, preferably in the range of about 100 bp to about 8.0 kbp. To reduce the possibility of recombination, the spacer is preferably less than 2 kbp in length; however, the invention is not so limited.

Although the molecule(s) providing rep and cap may exist in the host cell transiently (i.e., through transfection), it is preferred that one or both of the rep and cap proteins and the promoter(s) controlling their expression be stably expressed in the host cell, e.g., as an episome or by integration into the chromosome of the host cell. The methods employed for constructing embodiments of this invention are conventional genetic engineering or recombinant engineering techniques such as those described in the references above. While this specification provides illustrative examples of specific constructs, using the information provided herein, one of skill in the art may select and design other suitable constructs, using a choice of spacers, P5 promoters, and other elements, including at least one translational start and stop signal, and the optional addition of polyadenylation sites.

In another embodiment of this invention, the rep or cap protein may be provided stably by a host cell.

C. The Helper Functions

The packaging host cell also requires helper functions in order to package the rAAV of the invention. Optionally, these functions may be supplied by a herpesvirus. Most desirably, the necessary helper functions are each provided from a human or non-human primate adenovirus source, such as those described above and/or are available from a variety of sources, including the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Va. (US). In one currently preferred embodiment, the host cell is provided with and/or contains an E1a gene product, an E1b gene product, an E2a gene product, and/or an E4 ORF6 gene product. The host cell may contain other adenoviral genes such as VAI RNA, but these genes are not required. In a preferred embodiment, no other adenovirus genes or gene functions are present in the host cell.

By “adenoviral DNA which expresses the E1a gene product”, it is meant any adenovirus sequence encoding E1a or any functional E1a portion. Adenoviral DNA which expresses the E2a gene product and adenoviral DNA which expresses the E4 ORF6 gene products are defined similarly. Also included are any alleles or other modifications of the adenoviral gene or functional portion thereof. Such modifications may be deliberately introduced by resort to conventional genetic engineering or mutagenic techniques to enhance the adenoviral function in some manner, as well as naturally occurring allelic variants thereof. Such modifications and methods for manipulating DNA to achieve these adenovirus gene functions are known to those of skill in the art.

The adenovirus E1a, E1b, E2a, and/or E4ORF6 gene products, as well as any other desired helper functions, can be provided using any means that allows their expression in a cell. Each of the sequences encoding these products may be on a separate vector, or one or more genes may be on the same vector. The vector may be any vector known in the art or disclosed above, including plasmids, cosmids and viruses. Introduction into the host cell of the vector may be achieved by any means known in the art or as disclosed above, including transfection, infection, electroporation, liposome delivery, membrane fusion techniques, high velocity DNA-coated pellets, viral infection and protoplast fusion, among others. One or more of the adenoviral genes may be stably integrated into the genome of the host cell, stably expressed as episomes, or expressed transiently. The gene products may all be expressed transiently, on an episome or stably integrated, or some of the gene products may be expressed stably while others are expressed transiently. Furthermore, the promoters for each of the adenoviral genes may be selected independently from a constitutive promoter, an inducible promoter or a native adenoviral promoter. The promoters may be regulated by a specific physiological state of the organism or cell (i.e., by the differentiation state or in replicating or quiescent cells) or by exogenously added factors, for example.

D. Host Cells and Packaging Cell Lines

The host cell itself may be selected from any biological organism, including prokaryotic (e.g., bacterial) cells, and eukaryotic cells, including, insect cells, yeast cells and mammalian cells. Particularly desirable host cells are selected from among any mammalian species, including, without limitation, cells such as A549, WEHI, 3T3, 10T1/2, BHK, MDCK, COS 1, COS 7, BSC 1, BSC 40, BMT 10, VERO, WI38, HeLa, 293 cells (which express functional adenoviral E1), Saos, C2C12, L cells, HT1080, HepG2 and primary fibroblast, hepatocyte and myoblast cells derived from mammals including human, monkey, mouse, rat, rabbit, and hamster. The selection of the mammalian species providing the cells is not a limitation of this invention; nor is the type of mammalian cell, i.e., fibroblast, hepatocyte, tumor cell, etc. The requirements for the cell used is that it not carry any adenovirus gene other than E1, E2a and/or E4 ORF6; it not contain any other virus gene which could result in homologous recombination of a contaminating virus during the production of rAAV; and it is capable of infection or transfection of DNA and expression of the transfected DNA. In a preferred embodiment, the host cell is one that has rep and cap stably transfected in the cell.

One host cell useful in the present invention is a host cell stably transformed with the sequences encoding rep and cap, and which is transfected with the adenovirus E1, E2a, and E4ORF6 DNA and a construct carrying the minigene as described above. Stable rep and/or cap expressing cell lines, such as B-50 (PCT/US98/19463), or those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,785, may also be similarly employed. Another desirable host cell contains the minimum adenoviral DNA which is sufficient to express E4 ORF6. Yet other cell lines can be constructed using the AAV8 rep and/or AAV8 cap sequences of the invention.

The preparation of a host cell according to this invention involves techniques such as assembly of selected DNA sequences. This assembly may be accomplished utilizing conventional techniques. Such techniques include cDNA and genomic cloning, which are well known and are described in Sambrook et al., cited above, use of overlapping oligonucleotide sequences of the adenovirus and AAV genomes, combined with polymerase chain reaction, synthetic methods, and any other suitable methods which provide the desired nucleotide sequence.

Introduction of the molecules (as plasmids or viruses) into the host cell may also be accomplished using techniques known to the skilled artisan and as discussed throughout the specification. In preferred embodiment, standard transfection techniques are used, e.g., CaPO₄ transfection or electroporation, and/or infection by hybrid adenovirus/AAV vectors into cell lines such as the human embryonic kidney cell line HEK 293 (a human kidney cell line containing functional adenovirus E1 genes which provides trans-acting E1 proteins).

The AAV8 based vectors which are generated by one of skill in the art are beneficial for gene delivery to selected host cells and gene therapy patients since no neutralization antibodies to AAV8 have been found in the human population. One of skill in the art may readily prepare other rAAV viral vectors containing the AAV8 capsid proteins provided herein using a variety of techniques known to those of skill in the art. One may similarly prepare still other rAAV viral vectors containing AAV8 sequence and AAV capsids of another serotype.

One of skill in the art will readily understand that the AAV8 sequences of the invention can be readily adapted for use in these and other viral vector systems for in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo gene delivery. Similarly, one of skill in the art can readily select other fragments of the AAV8 genome of the invention for use in a variety of rAAV and non-rAAV vector systems. Such vectors systems may include, e.g., lentiviruses, retroviruses, poxviruses, vaccinia viruses, and adenoviral systems, among others. Selection of these vector systems is not a limitation of the present invention.

Thus, the invention further provides vectors generated using the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the novel AAV of the invention. Such vectors are useful for a variety of purposes, including for delivery of therapeutic molecules and for use in vaccine regimens. Particularly desirable for delivery of therapeutic molecules are recombinant AAV containing capsids of the novel AAV of the invention. These, or other vector constructs containing novel AAV sequences of the invention may be used in vaccine regimens, e.g., for co-delivery of a cytokine, or for delivery of the immunogen itself.

V. Recombinant Viruses and Uses Therefor

Using the techniques described herein, one of skill in the art can generate a rAAV having a capsid of a serotype 8 of the invention or having a capsid containing one or more fragments of AAV8. In one embodiment, a full-length capsid from a single serotype, e.g., AAV8 [SEQ ID NO: 2] can be utilized. In another embodiment, a full-length capsid may be generated which contains one or more fragments of AAV8 fused in frame with sequences from another selected AAV serotype, or from heterologous portions of AAV8. For example, a rAAV may contain one or more of the novel hypervariable region sequences of AAV8. Alternatively, the unique AAV8 sequences of the invention may be used in constructs containing other viral or non-viral sequences. Optionally, a recombinant virus may carry AAV8 rep sequences encoding one or more of the AAV8 rep proteins.

A. Delivery of Viruses

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for delivery of a transgene to a host which involves transfecting or infecting a selected host cell with a recombinant viral vector generated with the AAV8 sequences (or functional fragments thereof) of the invention. Methods for delivery are well known to those of skill in the art and are not a limitation of the present invention.

In one desirable embodiment, the invention provides a method for AAV8 mediated delivery of a transgene to a host. This method involves transfecting or infecting a selected host cell with a recombinant viral vector containing a selected transgene under the control of sequences which direct expression thereof and AAV8 capsid proteins.

Optionally, a sample from the host may be first assayed for the presence of antibodies to a selected AAV serotype. A variety of assay formats for detecting neutralizing antibodies are well known to those of skill in the art. The selection of such an assay is not a limitation of the present invention. See, e.g., Fisher et al, Nature Med., 3(3):306-312 (March 1997) and W. C. Manning et al, Human Gene Therapy, 9:477-485 (Mar. 1, 1998). The results of this assay may be used to determine which AAV vector containing capsid proteins of a particular serotype are preferred for delivery, e.g., by the absence of neutralizing antibodies specific for that capsid serotype.

In one aspect of this method, the delivery of vector with AAV8 capsid proteins may precede or follow delivery of a gene via a vector with a different serotype AAV capsid protein. Thus, gene delivery via rAAV vectors may be used for repeat gene delivery to a selected host cell. Desirably, subsequently administered rAAV vectors carry the same transgene as the first rAAV vector, but the subsequently administered vectors contain capsid proteins of serotypes which differ from the first vector. For example, if a first vector has AAV8 capsid proteins, subsequently administered vectors may have capsid proteins selected from among the other serotypes.

Optionally, multiple rAAV8 vectors can be used to deliver large transgenes or multiple transgenes by co-administration of rAAV vectors concatamerize in vivo to form a single vector genome. In such an embodiment, a first AAV may carry an expression cassette which expresses a single transgene (or a subunit thereof) and a second AAV may carry an expression cassette which expresses a second transgene (or a different subunit) for co-expression in the host cell. A first AAV may carry an expression cassette which is a first piece of a polycistronic construct (e.g., a promoter and transgene, or subunit) and a second AAV may carry an expression cassette which is a second piece of a polycistronic construct (e.g., transgene or subunit and a polyA sequence). These two pieces of a polycistronic construct concatamerize in vivo to form a single vector genome which co-expresses the transgenes delivered by the first and second AAV. In such embodiments, the rAAV vector carrying the first expression cassette and the rAAV vector carrying the second expression cassette can be delivered in a single pharmaceutical composition. In other embodiments, the two or more rAAV vectors are delivered as separate pharmaceutical compositions which can be administered substantially simultaneously, or shortly before or after one another.

The above-described recombinant vectors may be delivered to host cells according to published methods. The rAAV, preferably suspended in a physiologically compatible carrier, may be administered to a human or non-human mammalian patient. Suitable carriers may be readily selected by one of skill in the art in view of the indication for which the transfer virus is directed. For example, one suitable carrier includes saline, which may be formulated with a variety of buffering solutions (e.g., phosphate buffered saline). Other exemplary carriers include sterile saline, lactose, sucrose, calcium phosphate, gelatin, dextran, agar, pectin, peanut oil, sesame oil, and water. The selection of the carrier is not a limitation of the present invention.

Optionally, the compositions of the invention may contain, in addition to the rAAV and carrier(s), other conventional pharmaceutical ingredients, such as preservatives, or chemical stabilizers. Suitable exemplary preservatives include chlorobutanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, sulfur dioxide, propyl gallate, the parabens, ethyl vanillin, glycerin, phenol, and parachlorophenol. Suitable chemical stabilizers include gelatin and albumin.

The vectors are administered in sufficient amounts to transfect the cells and to provide sufficient levels of gene transfer and expression to provide a therapeutic benefit without undue adverse effects, or with medically acceptable physiological effects, which can be determined by those skilled in the medical arts. Conventional and pharmaceutically acceptable routes of administration include, but are not limited to, direct delivery to a desired organ (e.g., the liver (optionally via the hepatic artery) or lung), oral, inhalation, intranasal, intratracheal, intraarterial, intraocular, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, and other parental routes of administration. Routes of administration may be combined, if desired.

Dosages of the viral vector will depend primarily on factors such as the condition being treated, the age, weight and health of the patient, and may thus vary among patients. For example, a therapeutically effective human dosage of the viral vector is generally in the range of from about 0.1 ml to about 100 ml of solution containing concentrations of from about 1×10⁹ to 1×10¹⁶ genomes virus vector. A preferred human dosage for delivery to large organs (e.g., liver, muscle, heart and lung) may be about 5×10¹⁰ to 5×10¹³ AAV genomes per 1 kg, at a volume of about 1 to 100 mL. A preferred dosage for delivery to eye is about 5×10⁹ to 5×10¹² genome copies, at a volume of about 0.1 mL to 1 mL. The dosage will be adjusted to balance the therapeutic benefit against any side effects and such dosages may vary depending upon the therapeutic application for which the recombinant vector is employed. The levels of expression of the transgene can be monitored to determine the frequency of dosage resulting in viral vectors, preferably AAV vectors containing the minigene. Optionally, dosage regimens similar to those described for therapeutic purposes may be utilized for immunization using the compositions of the invention.

Examples of therapeutic products and immunogenic products for delivery by the AAV8-containing vectors of the invention are provided below. These vectors may be used for a variety of therapeutic or vaccinal regimens, as described herein. Additionally, these vectors may be delivered in combination with one or more other vectors or active ingredients in a desired therapeutic and/or vaccinal regimen.

B. Therapeutic Transgenes

Useful therapeutic products encoded by the transgene include hormones and growth and differentiation factors including, without limitation, insulin, glucagon, growth hormone (GH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietins, angiostatin, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), erythropoietin (EPO), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II), any one of the transforming growth factor α superfamily, including TGFα, activins, inhibins, or any of the bone morphogenic proteins (BMP) BMPs 1-15, any one of the heregluin/neuregulin/ARIA/neu differentiation factor (NDF) family of growth factors, nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophins NT-3 and NT-4/5, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin, agrin, any one of the family of semaphorins/collapsins, netrin-1 and netrin-2, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), ephrins, noggin, sonic hedgehog and tyrosine hydroxylase.

Other useful transgene products include proteins that regulate the immune system including, without limitation, cytokines and lymphokines such as thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukins (IL) IL-1 through IL-25 (including IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IL-18), monocyte chemoattractant protein, leukemia inhibitory factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, Fas ligand, tumor necrosis factors α and β, interferons α, β, and γ, stem cell factor, flk-2/flt3 ligand. Gene products produced by the immune system are also useful in the invention. These include, without limitations, immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE, chimeric immunoglobulins, humanized antibodies, single chain antibodies, T cell receptors, chimeric T cell receptors, single chain T cell receptors, class I and class II MHC molecules, as well as engineered immunoglobulins and MHC molecules. Useful gene products also include complement regulatory proteins such as complement regulatory proteins, membrane cofactor protein (MCP), decay accelerating factor (DAF), CR1, CF2 and CD59.

Still other useful gene products include any one of the receptors for the hormones, growth factors, cytokines, lymphokines, regulatory proteins and immune system proteins. The invention encompasses receptors for cholesterol regulation and/or lipid modulation, including the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor, the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor, and scavenger receptors. The invention also encompasses gene products such as members of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily including glucocorticoid receptors and estrogen receptors, Vitamin D receptors and other nuclear receptors. In addition, useful gene products include transcription factors such as jun, fos, max, mad, serum response factor (SRF), AP-1, AP2, myb, MyoD and myogenin, ETS-box containing proteins, TFE3, E2F, ATF1, ATF2, ATF3, ATF4, ZF5, NFAT, CREB, HNF-4, C/EBP, SP1, CCAAT-box binding proteins, interferon regulation factor (IRF-1), Wilms tumor protein, ETS-binding protein, STAT, GATA-box binding proteins, e.g., GATA-3, and the forkhead family of winged helix proteins.

Other useful gene products include, carbamoyl synthetase 1, ornithine transcarbamylase, arginosuccinate synthetase, arginosuccinate lyase, arginase, fumarylacetacetate hydrolase, phenylalanine hydroxylase, alpha-1 antitrypsin, glucose-6-phosphatase, porphobilinogen deaminase, cystathione beta-synthase, branched chain ketoacid decarboxylase, albumin, isovaleryl-coA dehydrogenase, propionyl CoA carboxylase, methyl malonyl CoA mutase, glutaryl CoA dehydrogenase, insulin, beta-glucosidase, pyruvate carboxylate, hepatic phosphorylase, phosphorylase kinase, glycine decarboxylase, H-protein, T-protein, a cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) sequence, and a dystrophin cDNA sequence. Still other useful gene products include enzymes such as may be useful in enzyme replacement therapy, which is useful in a variety of conditions resulting from deficient activity of enzyme. For example, enzymes that contain mannose-6-phosphate may be utilized in therapies for lysosomal storage diseases (e.g., a suitable gene includes that encoding β-glucuronidase (GUSB)).

Still other useful gene products include those used for treatment of hemophilia, including hemophilia B (including Factor IX) and hemophilia A (including Factor VIII and its variants, such as the light chain and heavy chain of the heterodimer and the B-deleted domain; U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,560 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,349). The Factor VIII gene codes for 2351 amino acids and the protein has six domains, designated from the amino to the terminal carboxy terminus as A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2 [Wood et al, Nature, 312:330 (1984); Vehar et al., Nature 312:337 (1984); and Toole et al, Nature, 342:337 (1984)]. Human Factor VIII is processed within the cell to yield a heterodimer primarily comprising a heavy chain containing the A1, A2 and B domains and a light chain containing the A3, C1 and C2 domains. Both the single chain polypeptide and the heterodimer circulate in the plasma as inactive precursors, until activated by thrombin cleavage between the A2 and B domains, which releases the B domain and results in a heavy chain consisting of the A1 and A2 domains. The B domain is deleted in the activated procoagulant form of the protein. Additionally, in the native protein, two polypeptide chains (“a” and “b”), flanking the B domain, are bound to a divalent calcium cation.

In some embodiments, the minigene comprises first 57 base pairs of the Factor VIII heavy chain which encodes the 10 amino acid signal sequence, as well as the human growth hormone (hGH) polyadenylation sequence. In alternative embodiments, the minigene further comprises the A1 and A2 domains, as well as 5 amino acids from the N-terminus of the B domain, and/or 85 amino acids of the C-terminus of the B domain, as well as the A3, C1 and C2 domains. In yet other embodiments, the nucleic acids encoding Factor VIII heavy chain and light chain are provided in a single minigene separated by 42 nucleic acids coding for 14 amino acids of the B domain [U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,560].

As used herein, a therapeutically effective amount is an amount of AAV vector that produces sufficient amounts of Factor VIII to decrease the time it takes for a subject's blood to clot. Generally, severe hemophiliacs having less than 1% of normal levels of Factor VIII have a whole blood clotting time of greater than 60 minutes as compared to approximately 10 minutes for non-hemophiliacs.

The present invention is not limited to any specific Factor VIII sequence. Many natural and recombinant forms of Factor VIII have been isolated and generated. Examples of naturally occurring and recombinant forms of Factor VII can be found in the patent and scientific literature including, U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,045, U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,521, U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,260, U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,803, U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,006, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,008, U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,203, U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,746, U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,886, U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,455, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,108, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,150, U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,499, U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,310, U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,844, U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,637, U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,950, U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,876, WO 94/11503, WO 87/07144, WO 92/16557, WO 91/09122, WO 97/03195, WO 96/21035, WO 91/07490, EP 0 672 138, EP 0 270 618, EP 0 182 448, EP 0 162 067, EP 0 786 474, EP 0 533 862, EP 0 506 757, EP 0 874 057, EP 0 795 021, EP 0 670 332, EP 0 500 734, EP 0 232 112, EP 0 160 457, Sanberg et al., XXth Int. Congress of the World Fed. Of Hemophilia (1992), and Lind et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 232:19 (1995).

Nucleic acids sequences coding for the above-described Factor VIII can be obtained using recombinant methods or by deriving the sequence from a vector known to include the same. Furthermore, the desired sequence can be isolated directly from cells and tissues containing the same, using standard techniques, such as phenol extraction and PCR of cDNA or genomic DNA [See, e.g., Sambrook et al]. Nucleotide sequences can also be produced synthetically, rather than cloned. The complete sequence can be assembled from overlapping oligonucleotides prepared by standard methods and assembled into a complete coding sequence [See, e.g., Edge, Nature 292:757 (1981); Nambari et al, Science, 223:1299 (1984); and Jay et al, J. Biol. Chem. 259:6311 (1984).

Furthermore, the invention is not limited to human Factor VIII. Indeed, it is intended that the present invention encompass Factor VIII from animals other than humans, including but not limited to companion animals (e.g., canine, felines, and equines), livestock (e.g., bovines, caprines and ovines), laboratory animals, marine mammals, large cats, etc.

The AAV vectors may contain a nucleic acid coding for fragments of Factor VIII which is itself not biologically active, yet when administered into the subject improves or restores the blood clotting time. For example, as discussed above, the Factor VIII protein comprises two polypeptide chains: a heavy chain and a light chain separated by a B-domain which is cleaved during processing. As demonstrated by the present invention, co-tranducing recipient cells with the Factor VIII heavy and light chains leads to the expression of biologically active Factor VIII. Because, however, most hemophiliacs contain a mutation or deletion in only one of the chain (e.g., heavy or light chain), it may be possible to administer only the chain defective in the patient to supply the other chain.

Other useful gene products include non-naturally occurring polypeptides, such as chimeric or hybrid polypeptides having a non-naturally occurring amino acid sequence containing insertions, deletions or amino acid substitutions. For example, single-chain engineered immunoglobulins could be useful in certain immunocompromised patients. Other types of non-naturally occurring gene sequences include antisense molecules and catalytic nucleic acids, such as ribozymes, which could be used to reduce overexpression of a target.

Reduction and/or modulation of expression of a gene is particularly desirable for treatment of hyperproliferative conditions characterized by hyperproliferating cells, as are cancers and psoriasis. Target polypeptides include those polypeptides which are produced exclusively or at higher levels in hyperproliferative cells as compared to normal cells. Target antigens include polypeptides encoded by oncogenes such as myb, myc, fyn, and the translocation gene bcr/abl, ras, src, P53, neu, trk and EGRF. In addition to oncogene products as target antigens, target polypeptides for anti-cancer treatments and protective regimens include variable regions of antibodies made by B cell lymphomas and variable regions of T cell receptors of T cell lymphomas which, in some embodiments, are also used as target antigens for autoimmune disease. Other tumor-associated polypeptides can be used as target polypeptides such as polypeptides which are found at higher levels in tumor cells including the polypeptide recognized by monoclonal antibody 17-1A and folate binding polypeptides.

Other suitable therapeutic polypeptides and proteins include those which may be useful for treating individuals suffering from autoimmune diseases and disorders by conferring a broad based protective immune response against targets that are associated with autoimmunity including cell receptors and cells which produce “self”-directed antibodies. T cell mediated autoimmune diseases include Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjögren's syndrome, sarcoidosis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), autoimmune thyroiditis, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, psoriasis, vasculitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Each of these diseases is characterized by T cell receptors (TCRs) that bind to endogenous antigens and initiate the inflammatory cascade associated with autoimmune diseases.

C. Immunogenic Transgenes

Suitably, the AAV8 vectors of the invention avoid the generation of immune responses to the AAV8 sequences contained within the vector. However, these vectors may nonetheless be formulated in a manner which permits the expression of a transgene carried by the vectors to induce an immune response to a selected antigen. For example, in order to promote an immune response, the transgene may be expressed from a constitutive promoter, the vector can be adjuvanted as described herein, and/or the vector can be put into degenerating tissue.

Examples of suitable immunogenic transgenes include those selected from a variety of viral families. Example of desirable viral families against which an immune response would be desirable include, the picornavirus family, which includes the genera rhinoviruses, which are responsible for about 50% of cases of the common cold; the genera enteroviruses, which include polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and human enteroviruses such as hepatitis A virus; and the genera apthoviruses, which are responsible for foot and mouth diseases, primarily in non-human animals. Within the picornavirus family of viruses, target antigens include the VP1, VP2, VP3, VP4, and VPG. Other viral families include the astroviruses and the calcivirus family. The calcivirus family encompasses the Norwalk group of viruses, which are an important causative agent of epidemic gastroenteritis. Still another viral family desirable for use in targeting antigens for inducing immune responses in humans and non-human animals is the togavirus family, which includes the genera alphavirus, which include Sindbis viruses, RossRiver virus, and Venezuelan, Eastern & Western Equine encephalitis, and rubivirus, including Rubella virus. The flaviviridae family includes dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and tick borne encephalitis viruses. Other target antigens may be generated from the Hepatitis C or the coronavirus family, which includes a number of non-human viruses such as infectious bronchitis virus (poultry), porcine transmissible gastroenteric virus (pig), porcine hemagglutinatin encephalomyelitis virus (pig), feline infectious peritonitis virus (cats), feline enteric coronavirus (cat), canine coronavirus (dog), and human respiratory coronaviruses, which may cause the common cold and/or non-A, B or C hepatitis, and which include the putative cause of sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Within the coronavirus family, target antigens include the E1 (also called M or matrix protein), E2 (also called S or Spike protein), E3 (also called HE or hemagglutin-elterose) glycoprotein (not present in all coronaviruses), or N (nucleocapsid). Still other antigens may be targeted against the arterivirus family and the rhabdovirus family. The rhabdovirus family includes the genera vesiculovirus (e.g., Vesicular Stomatitis Virus), and the general lyssavirus (e.g., rabies). Within the rhabdovirus family, suitable antigens may be derived from the G protein or the N protein. The family filoviridae, which includes hemorrhagic fever viruses such as Marburg and Ebola virus may be a suitable source of antigens. The paramyxovirus family includes parainfluenza Virus Type 1, parainfluenza Virus Type 3, bovine parainfluenza Virus Type 3, rubulavirus (mumps virus, parainfluenza Virus Type 2, parainfluenza virus Type 4, Newcastle disease virus (chickens), rinderpest, morbillivirus, which includes measles and canine distemper, and pneumovirus, which includes respiratory syncytial virus. The influenza virus is classified within the family orthomyxovirus and is a suitable source of antigen (e.g., the HA protein, the N1 protein). The bunyavirus family includes the genera bunyavirus (California encephalitis, La Crosse), phlebovirus (Rift Valley Fever), hantavirus (puremala is a hemahagin fever virus), nairovirus (Nairobi sheep disease) and various unassigned bungaviruses. The arenavirus family provides a source of antigens against LCM and Lassa fever virus. Another source of antigens is the bornavirus family. The reovirus family includes the genera reovirus, rotavirus (which causes acute gastroenteritis in children), orbiviruses, and cultivirus (Colorado Tick fever, Lebombo (humans), equine encephalosis, blue tongue). The retrovirus family includes the sub-family oncorivirinal which encompasses such human and veterinary diseases as feline leukemia virus, HTLVI and HTLVII, lentivirinal (which includes HIV, simian immunodeficiency virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, equine infectious anemia virus, and spumavirinal). The papovavirus family includes the sub-family polyomaviruses (BKU and JCU viruses) and the sub-family papillomavirus (associated with cancers or malignant progression of papilloma). The adenovirus family includes viruses (EX, AD7, ARD, O.B.) which cause respiratory disease and/or enteritis. The parvovirus family feline parvovirus (feline enteritis), feline panleucopeniavirus, canine parvovirus, and porcine parvovirus. The herpesvirus family includes the sub-family alphaherpesvirinae, which encompasses the genera simplexvirus (HSVI, HSVII), varicellovirus (pseudorabies, varicella zoster) and the sub-family betaherpesvirinae, which includes the genera cytomegalovirus (HCMV, muromegalovirus) and the sub-family gammaherpesvirinae, which includes the genera lymphocryptovirus, EBV (Burkitts lymphoma), human herpesviruses 6A, 6B and 7, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and cercopithecine herpesvirus (B virus), infectious rhinotracheitis, Marek's disease virus, and rhadinovirus. The poxvirus family includes the sub-family chordopoxyirinae, which encompasses the genera orthopoxvirus (Variola major (Smallpox) and Vaccinia (Cowpox)), parapoxvirus, avipoxvirus, capripoxvirus, leporipoxvirus, suipoxvirus, and the sub-family entomopoxyirinae. The hepadnavirus family includes the Hepatitis B virus. One unclassified virus which may be suitable source of antigens is the Hepatitis delta virus, Hepatitis E virus, and prions. Another virus which is a source of antigens is Nipan Virus. Still other viral sources may include avian infectious bursal disease virus and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus. The alphavirus family includes equine arteritis virus and various Encephalitis viruses.

The present invention may also encompass immunogens which are useful to immunize a human or non-human animal against other pathogens including bacteria, fungi, parasitic microorganisms or multicellular parasites which infect human and non-human vertebrates, or from a cancer cell or tumor cell. Examples of bacterial pathogens include pathogenic gram-positive cocci include pneumococci; staphylococci (and the toxins produced thereby, e.g., enterotoxin B); and streptococci. Pathogenic gram-negative cocci include meningococcus; gonococcus. Pathogenic enteric gram-negative bacilli include enterobacteriaceae; pseudomonas, acinetobacteria and eikenella; melioidosis; salmonella; shigella; haemophilus; moraxella; H. ducreyi (which causes chancroid); brucella species (brucellosis); Francisella tularensis (which causes tularemia); Yersinia pestis (plague) and other yersinia (pasteurella); streptobacillus moniliformis and spirillum; Gram-positive bacilli include listeria monocytogenes; erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae; Corynebacterium diphtheria (diphtheria); cholera; B. anthracis (anthrax); donovanosis (granuloma inguinale); and bartonellosis. Diseases caused by pathogenic anaerobic bacteria include tetanus; botulism (Clostridum botulinum and its toxin); Clostridium perfringens and its epsilon toxin; other clostridia; tuberculosis; leprosy; and other mycobacteria. Pathogenic spirochetal diseases include syphilis; treponematoses: yaws, pinta and endemic syphilis; and leptospirosis. Other infections caused by higher pathogen bacteria and pathogenic fungi include glanders (Burkholderia mallei); actinomycosis; nocardiosis; cryptococcosis, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis; candidiasis, aspergillosis, and mucormycosis; sporotrichosis; paracoccidiodomycosis, petriellidiosis, torulopsosis, mycetoma and chromomycosis; and dermatophytosis. Rickettsial infections include Typhus fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever (Coxiella burnetti), and Rickettsialpox. Examples of mycoplasma and chlamydial infections include: mycoplasma pneumoniae; lymphogranuloma venereum; psittacosis; and perinatal chiamydial infections. Pathogenic eukaryotes encompass pathogenic protozoans and helminths and infections produced thereby include: amebiasis; malaria; leishmaniasis; trypanosomiasis; toxoplasmosis; Pneumocystis carinii; Trichans; Toxoplasma gondii; babesiosis; giardiasis; trichinosis; filariasis; schistosomiasis; nematodes; trematodes or flukes; and cestode (tapeworm) infections.

Many of these organisms and/or the toxins produced thereby have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control [(CDC), Department of Heath and Human Services, USA], as agents which have potential for use in biological attacks. For example, some of these biological agents, include, Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Clostridium botulinum and its toxin (botulism), Yersinia pestis (plague), variola major (smallpox), Francisella tularensis (tularemia), and viral hemorrhagic fevers [filoviruses (e.g., Ebola, Marburg], and arenaviruses [e.g., Lassa, Machupo]), all of which are currently classified as Category A agents; Coxiella burnetti (Q fever); Brucella species (brucellosis), Burkholderia mallei (glanders), Burkholderia pseudomallei (meloidosis), Ricinus communis and its toxin (ricin toxin), Clostridium perfringens and its toxin (epsilon toxin), Staphylococcus species and their toxins (enterotoxin B), Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis), water safety threats (e.g., Vibrio cholerae, Crytosporidium parvum), Typhus fever (Richettsia powazekii), and viral encephalitis (alphaviruses, e.g., Venezuelan equine encephalitis; eastern equine encephalitis; western equine encephalitis); all of which are currently classified as Category B agents; and Nipan virus and hantaviruses, which are currently classified as Category C agents. In addition, other organisms, which are so classified or differently classified, may be identified and/or used for such a purpose in the future. It will be readily understood that the viral vectors and other constructs described herein are useful to deliver antigens from these organisms, viruses, their toxins or other by-products, which will prevent and/or treat infection or other adverse reactions with these biological agents.

Administration of the vectors of the invention to deliver immunogens against the variable region of the T cells elicit an immune response including CTLs to eliminate those T cells. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), several specific variable regions of TCRs which are involved in the disease have been characterized. These TCRs include V-3, V-14, V-17 and V-17. Thus, delivery of a nucleic acid sequence that encodes at least one of these polypeptides will elicit an immune response that will target T cells involved in RA. In multiple sclerosis (MS), several specific variable regions of TCRs which are involved in the disease have been characterized. These TCRs include V-7 and V-10. Thus, delivery of a nucleic acid sequence that encodes at least one of these polypeptides will elicit an immune response that will target T cells involved in MS. In scleroderma, several specific variable regions of TCRs which are involved in the disease have been characterized. These TCRs include V-6, V-8, V-14 and V-16, V-3C, V-7, V-14, V-15, V-16, V-28 and V-12. Thus, delivery of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes at least one of these polypeptides will elicit an immune response that will target T cells involved in scleroderma.

Thus, a rAAV8-derived recombinant viral vector of the invention provides an efficient gene transfer vehicle which can deliver a selected transgene to a selected host cell in vivo or ex vivo even where the organism has neutralizing antibodies to one or more AAV serotypes. In one embodiment, the rAAV and the cells are mixed ex vivo; the infected cells are cultured using conventional methodologies; and the transduced cells are re-infused into the patient.

These compositions are particularly well suited to gene delivery for therapeutic purposes and for immunization, including inducing protective immunity. Further, the compositions of the invention may also be used for production of a desired gene product in vitro. For in vitro production, a desired product (e.g., a protein) may be obtained from a desired culture following transfection of host cells with a rAAV containing the molecule encoding the desired product and culturing the cell culture under conditions which permit expression. The expressed product may then be purified and isolated, as desired. Suitable techniques for transfection, cell culturing, purification, and isolation are known to those of skill in the art.

The following examples illustrate several aspects and embodiments of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Production of Recombinant AAV8 Viral Genomes Equipped with AAV2 ITRs

Chimeric packaging constructs are generated by fusing AAV2 rep with cap sequences of novel AAV serotypes. These chimeric packaging constructs are used, initially, for pseudotyping recombinant AAV genomes carrying AAV2 ITRs by triple transfection in 293 cell using Ad5 helper plasmid. These pseudotyped vectors are used to evaluate performance in transduction-based serological studies and evaluate gene transfer efficiency of novel AAV serotypes in different animal models including NHP and rodents, before intact and infectious viruses of these novel serotypes are isolated.

A. pAAV2GFP

The AAV2 plasmid which contains the AAV2 ITRs and green fluorescent protein expressed under the control of a constitutive promoter. This plasmid contains the following elements: the AAV2 ITRs, a CMV promoter and the GFP coding sequences.

B. Cloning of Trans Plasmid

To construct the chimeric trans-plasmid for production of recombinant pseudotyped AAV8 vectors, p5E18 plasmid (Xiao et al., 1999, J Virol 73:3994-4003) was partially digested with Xho I to linearize the plasmid at the Xho I site at the position of 3169 bp only. The Xho I cut ends were then filled in and ligated back. This modified p5E18 plasmid was restricted with Xba I and Xho I in a complete digestion to remove the AAV2 cap gene sequence and replaced with a 2267 bp Spe I/Xho I fragment containing the AAV8 cap gene which was isolated from pCRAAV8 6-5+15-4 plasmid.

The resulting plasmid contains the AAV2 rep sequences for Rep78/68 under the control of the AAV2 P5 promoter, and the AAV2 rep sequences for Rep52/40 under the control of the AAV2 P19 promoter. The AAV9 capsid sequences are under the control of the AAV2 P40 promoter, which is located within the Rep sequences. This plasmid further contains a spacer 5′ of the rep ORF.

Alternatively, a similar plasmid can be constructed which utilizes the AAV8 rep sequences and the native AAV8 promoter sequences. This plasmid is then used for production of rAAV8, as described herein.

C. Production of Pseudotyped rAAV

The rAAV particles (AAV2 vector in AAV8 capsid) are generated using an adenovirus-free method. Briefly, the cis plasmid (pAAV2.1 lacZ plasmid containing AAV2 ITRs), and the trans plasmid pCRAAV8 6-5+15-4 (containing the AAV2 rep and AAV8cap) and a helper plasmid, respectively, were simultaneously co-transfected into 293 cells in a ratio of 1:1:2 by calcium phosphate precipitation.

For the construction of the pAd helper plasmids, pBG10 plasmid was purchased from Microbix (Canada). A RsrII fragment containing L2 and L3 was deleted from pBHG 10, resulting in the first helper plasmid, pAdΔ F13. Plasmid Ad F1 was constructed by cloning Asp700/SalI fragment with a PmeI/Sgf1 deletion, isolating from pBHG10, into Bluescript. MLP, L2, L2 and L3 were deleted in the pAdΔF1. Further deletions of a 2.3 kb NruI fragment and, subsequently, a 0.5 kb RsrII/NruI fragment generated helper plasmids pAdΔF5 and pAdΔF6, respectively. The helper plasmid, termed pΔF6, provides the essential helper functions of E2a and E4 ORF6 not provided by the E1-expressing helper cell, but is deleted of adenoviral capsid proteins and functional E1 regions).

Typically, 50 μg of DNA (cis:trans:helper) was transfected onto a 150 mm tissue culture dish. The 293 cells were harvested 72 hours post-transfection, sonicated and treated with 0.5% sodium deoxycholate (37° C. for 10 min.) Cell lysates were then subjected to two rounds of a CsCl gradient. Peak fractions containing rAAV vector are collected, pooled and dialyzed against PBS.

EXAMPLE 2 Evaluation of Vectors with AAV8 Capsids

Vectors based on AAV1 (2/1), AAV5 (2/5) and AAV2 (2/2) were developed essentially as described for AAV8 in Example 1. Genome copy (GC) titers of AAV vectors were determined by TaqMan analysis using probes and primers targeting SV40 poly A region as described previously [Gao, G., et al., (2000) Hum Gene Ther 11, 2079-91]. Recombinant virions were recovered by CsCl₂ sedimentation in all cases except AAV2/2, which was purified by heparin chromatography.

Vectors were constructed for each serotype for a number of in vitro and in vivo studies. Eight different transgene cassettes were incorporated into the vectors and recombinant virions were produced for each serotype. The recovery of virus, based on genome copies, is summarized in Table 1. The yields of vector were high for each serotype with no consistent differences between serotypes. Data presented in the table are average genome copy yields with standard deviation×10¹³ of multiple production lots of 50 plate (150 mm) transfections.

TABLE 1 Production of Recombinant Vectors AAV2/1 AAV2/2 AAV2/5 AAV2/8 CMV 7.30 ± 4.33 4.49 ± 2.89 5.19 ± 5.19 0.87 LacZ (n = 9) (n = 6) (n = 8) (n = 1) CMV 6.43 ± 2.42 3.39 ± 2.42 5.55 ± 6.49 3.74 ± 3.88 EGFP (n = 2) (n = 2) (n = 4) (n = 2) TBG 4.18  0.23  0.704 ± 0.43   0.532 LacZ (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 2) (n = 1) Alb 4.67 ± 0.75 4.77 4.09 2.02 A1AT (n = 2) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 1) CB 0.567 0.438 2.82 0.816 ± 0.679 A1AT (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 2) CMV 8.78 ± 2.37 1.43 ± 1.18 1.63 ± 1.15 1.32 ± 0.87 rhCG (n = 7) (n = 2) (n = 3) (n = 3) TBG 8.51 ± 6.65 3.47 ± 2.09 5.26 ± 3.85 1.83 ± 0.98 rhCG (n = 6) (n = 5) (n = 4) (n = 5) TBG 1.24 ± 1.29  0.63 ± 0.394 3.74 ± 2.48 15.8 ± 15.0 cFIX (n = 3) (n = 6) (n = 7) (n = 5)

EXAMPLE 3 Serologic Analysis of Pseudotyped Vectors

C57BL/6 mice were injected with vectors of different serotypes of AAVCBA1AT vectors intramuscularly (5×10¹¹ GC) and serum samples were collected 34 days later. To test neutralizing and cross-neutralizing activity of sera to each serotype of AAV, sera was analyzed in a transduction based neutralizing antibody assay [Gao, G. P., et al., (1996) J Virol 70, 8934-43]. More specifically, the presence of neutralizing antibodies was determined by assessing the ability of serum to inhibit transduction of 84-31 cells by reporter viruses (AAVCMVEGFP) of different serotypes. Specifically, the reporter virus AAVCMVEGFP of each serotype [at multiplicity of infection (MOI) that led to a transduction of 90% of indicator cells] was pre-incubated with heat-inactivated serum from animals that received different serotypes of AAV or from naïve mice. After 1-hour incubation at 37° C., viruses were added to 84-31 cells in 96 well plates for 48 or 72-hour, depending on the virus serotype. Expression of GFP was measured by FluoroImagin (Molecular Dynamics) and quantified by Image Quant Software. Neutralizing antibody titers were reported as the highest serum dilution that inhibited transduction to less than 50%.

The availability of GFP expressing vectors simplified the development of an assay for neutralizing antibodies that was based on inhibition of transduction in a permissive cell line (i.e., 293 cells stably expressing E4 from Ad5). Sera to selected AAV serotypes were generated by intramuscular injection of the recombinant viruses. Neutralization of AAV transduction by 1:20 and 1:80 dilutions of the antisera was evaluated (Table 2). Antisera to AAV1, AAV2, AAV5 and AAV8 neutralized transduction of the serotype to which the antiserum was generated (AAV5 and AAV8 to a lesser extent than AAV1 and AAV2) but not to the other serotype (i.e., there was no evidence of cross neutralization suggesting that AAV 8 is a truly unique serotype).

TABLE 2 Serological Analysis of New AAV Serotypes. Immunization Serum dilution: Serum dilution: Serum dilution: Serum dilution: Sera: Vector 1/20 1/80 1/20 1/80 1/20 1/80 1/20 1/80 Group 1 AAV2/1 0 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 Group 2 AAV2/2 100 100 0 0 100 100 100 100 Group 3 AAV2/5 100 100 100 100 16.5 16.5 100 100 Group 4 AAV2/8 100 100 100 100 100 100 26.3 60

Human sera from 52 normal subjects were screened for neutralization against selected serotypes. No serum sample was found to neutralize AAV2/8 while AAV2/2 and AAV2/1 vectors were neutralized in 20% and 10% of sera, respectively. A fraction of human pooled IqG representing a collection of 60,000 individual samples did not neutralize AAV2/8, whereas AAV2/2 and AAV2/1 vectors were neutralized at titers of serum equal to 1/1280 and 1/640, respectively.

EXAMPLE 4 In vivo Evaluation of Different Serotypes of AAV Vectors

In this study, 7 recombinant AAV genomes, AAV2CBhA1AT, AAV2AlbhA1AT, AAV2CMVrhCG, AAV2TBGrhCG, AAV2TBGcFIX, AAV2CMVLacZ and AAV2TBGLacZ were packaged with capsid proteins of different serotypes. In all 7 constructs, minigene cassettes were flanked with AAV2 ITRs. cDNAs of human α-antitrypsin (A1AT) [Xiao, W., et al., (1999) J Virol 73, 3994-4003] β-subunit of rhesus monkey choriogonadotropic hormone (CG) [Zoltick, P. W. & Wilson, J. M. (2000) Mol Ther 2, 657-9] canine factor IX [Wang, L., et al., (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94, 11563-6] and bacterial β-glactosidase (i.e., Lac Z) genes were used as reporter genes. For liver-directed gene transfer, either mouse albumin gene promoter (Alb) [Xiao, W. (1999), cited above] or human thyroid hormone binding globulin gene promoter (TBG) [Wang (1997), cited above] was used to drive liver specific expression of reporter genes. In muscle-directed gene transfer experiments, either cytomegalovirus early promoter (CMV) or chicken β-actin promoter with CMV enhancer (CB) was employed to direct expression of reporters.

For muscle-directed gene transfer, vectors were injected into the right tibialis anterior of 4-6 week old NCR nude or C57BL/6 mice (Taconic, Germantown, N.Y.) at a dose of 1×10¹¹ genome copies (GC) per animal. In liver-directed gene transfer studies, vectors were infused intraportally into 7-9 week old NCR nude or C57BL/6 mice (Taconic, Germantown, N.Y.), also at a dose of 1×10¹¹ genome copies (GC) per animal. Serum samples were collected intraorbitally at different time points after vector administration. Muscle and liver tissues were harvested at different time points for cryosectioning and Xgal histochemical staining from animals that received the lacZ vectors. For the re-administration experiment, C56BL/6 mice initially received AAV2/1, 2/2, 2/5, 2/7 and 2/8CBA1AT vectors intramuscularly and followed for A1AT gene expression for 7 weeks. Animals were then treated with AAV2/8TBGcFIX intraportally and studied for cFIX gene expression.

ELISA based assays were performed to quantify serum levels of hA1AT, rhCG and cFIX proteins as described previously [Gao, G. P., et al., (1996) J Virol 70, 8934-43; Zoltick, P. W. & Wilson, J. M. (2000) Mol Ther 2, 657-9; Wang, L., et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94, 11563-6]. The experiments were completed when animals were sacrificed for harvest of muscle and liver tissues for DNA extraction and quantitative analysis of genome copies of vectors present in target tissues by TaqMan using the same set of primers and probe as in titration of vector preparations [Zhang, Y., et al., (2001) Mol Ther 3, 697-707].

The performance of vectors base on the new serotypes were evaluated in murine models of muscle and liver-directed gene transfer and compared to vectors based on the known serotypes AAV1, AAV2 and AAV5. Vectors expressing secreted proteins (A1AT and CG—Table 3) were used to quantitate relative transduction efficiencies between different serotypes through ELISA analysis of sera. The cellular distribution of transduction within the target organ was evaluated using lacZ expressing vectors and X-gal histochemistry.

The performance of AAV vectors in skeletal muscle was analyzed following direct injection into the tibialis anterior muscles. Vectors contained the same AAV2 based genome with the immediate early gene of CMV or a CMV enhanced β-actin promoter driving expression of the transgene. Previous studies indicated that immune competent C57BL/6 mice elicit limited humoral responses to the human A1AT protein when expressed from AAV vectors [Xiao, W., et al., (1999) J Virol 73, 3994-4003].

In each strain, AAV2/1 vector produced the highest levels of A1AT and AAV2/2 vector the lowest, with AAV2/8 vectors showing intermediate levels of expression. Peak levels of CG at 28 days following injection of nu/nu NCR mice showed the highest levels from AAV2/7 and the lowest from AAV2/2 with AAV2/8 and AAV2/1 in between. Injection of AAV2/1 lacZ vectors yielded gene expression at the injection sites in all muscle fibers with substantially fewer lacZ positive fibers observed with AAV2/2 and AAV 2/8 vectors.

Similar murine models were used to evaluate liver-directed gene transfer. Identical doses of vector based on genome copies were infused into the portal veins of mice that were analyzed subsequently for expression of the transgene. Each vector contained an AAV2 based genome using previously described liver-specific promoters (i.e., albumin or thyroid hormone binding globulin) to drive expression of the transgene. More particularly, CMVCG and TBGCG minigene cassettes were used for muscle and liver-directed gene transfer, respectively. Levels of rhCG were defined as relative units (rUs×10³). The data were from assaying serum samples collected at day 28, post vector administration (4 animals per group). As shown in Table 4, the impact of capsid proteins on the efficiency of transduction of A1AT vectors in nu/nu and C57BL/6 mice and CG vectors in C57BL/6 mice was consistent, i.e., AAV2/8 is the most efficient for pseudotype for liver-directed gene transfer.

TABLE 3 Expression of β-unit of Rhesus Monkey Chorionic Gonadotropin (rhCG) in Mouse Muscle and Liver. Vector Muscle Liver AAV2/1 4.5 ± 2.1 1.6 ± 1.0 AAV2 0.5 ± 0.1 0.7 ± 0.3 AAV2/5 ND* 4.8 ± 0.8 AAV2/8 4.0 ± 0.7 76.0 ± 22.8 *Not determined in this experiment.

In all cases, AAV2/8 vectors yielded the highest levels of transgene expression that ranged from 16 to 110 greater than what was obtained with AAV2/2 vectors; expression from AAV2/5 was intermediate. Analysis of X-Gal stained liver sections of animals that received the corresponding lacZ vectors showed a correlation between the number of transduced cells and overall levels of transgene expression. DNAs extracted from livers of C57BL/6 mice who received the A1AT vectors were analyzed for abundance of vector DNA using real time PCR technology.

The amount of vector DNA found in liver 56 days after injection correlated with the levels of transgene expression (Table 4). For this experiment, a set of probe and primers targeting the SV40 polyA region of the vector genome was used for TaqMan PCR. Values shown are means of three individual animals with standard deviations. The animals were sacrificed at day 56 to harvest liver tissues for DNA extraction. These studies indicate that AAV8 is the most efficient vector for liver-directed gene transfer due to increased numbers of transduced hepatocytes.

TABLE 4 Real Time PCR Analysis for Abundance of AAV Vectors in nu/nu Mouse Liver Following Injection of 1 × 10¹¹ Genome Copies of Vector. AAV vectors/Dose Genome Copies per Cell AAV2/1AlbA1AT  0.6 ± 0.36 AAV2AlbA1AT 0.003 ± 0.001 AAV2/5AlbA1AT 0.83 ± 0.64 AAV2/8AlbA1AT 18 ± 11

The serologic data described above suggest that AAV2/8 vector should not be neutralized in vivo following immunization with the other serotypes. C57BL/6 mice received intraportal injections of AAV2/8 vector expressing canine factor IX (10¹¹ genome copies) 56 days after they received intramuscular injections of A1AT vectors of different serotypes. High levels of factor IX expression were obtained 14 days following infusion of AAV2/8 into naïve animals (17±2 μg/ml, N=4) which were not significantly different that what was observed in animals immunized with AAV2/1 (31±23 μg/ml, N=4), and AAV2/2 (16 μg/ml, N=2). This contrasts to what was observed in AAV2/8 immunized animals that were infused with the AAV2/8 factor IX vector in which no detectable factor IX was observed (<0.1 μg/ml, N=4).

Oligonucleotides to conserved regions of the cap gene did amplify sequences from rhesus monkeys that represented unique AAVs. Identical cap signature sequences were found in multiple tissues from rhesus monkeys derived from at least two different colonies. Full-length rep and cap open reading frames were isolated and sequenced from single sources. Only the cap open reading frames of the novel AAVs were necessary to evaluate their potential as vectors because vectors with the AAV8 capsids were generated using the ITRs and rep from AAV2. This also simplified the comparison of different vectors since the actual vector genome is identical between different vector serotypes. In fact, the yields of recombinant vectors generated using this approach did not differ between serotypes.

Vectors based on AAV8 appear to be immunologically distinct (i.e., they are not neutralized by antibodies generated against other serotypes). Furthermore, sera from humans do not neutralize transduction by AAV8 vectors, which is a substantial advantage over the human derived AAVs currently under development for which a significant proportion of the human population has pre-existing immunity that is neutralizing [Chirmule, N., et al., (1999) Gene Ther 6, 1574-83].

The tropism of the new vector is favorable for in vivo applications. Importantly, AAV2/8 provides a substantial advantage over the other serotypes in terms of efficiency of gene transfer to liver that until now has been relatively disappointing in terms of the numbers of hepatocytes stably transduced. AAV2/8 consistently achieved a 10 to 100-fold improvement in gene transfer efficiency as compared to the other vectors. The basis for the improved efficiency of AAV2/8 is unclear, although it presumably is due to uptake via a different receptor that is more active on the basolateral surface of hepatocytes. This improved efficiency will be quite useful in the development of liver-directed gene transfer where the number of transduced cells is critical, such as in urea cycle disorders and familial hypercholesterolemia.

Thus, the lack of pre-existing immunity to AAV8 and the favorable tropism of the vectors for liver indicates that vectors with AAV8 capsid proteins are suitable for use as vectors in human gene therapy and other in vivo applications.

EXAMPLE 5 Tissue Tropism Studies

In the design of a high throughput functional screening scheme for novel AAV constructs, a non-tissue specific and highly active promoter, CB promoter (CMV enhanced chicken β-actin promoter) was selected to drive an easily detectable and quantifiable reporter gene, human α-anti-trypsin gene. Thus only one vector for each new AAV clone needs to be made for gene transfer studies targeting 3 different tissues, liver, lung and muscle to screen for tissue tropism of a particular AAV construct. The following table summarizes data generated from novel AAV vectors in the tissue tropism studies (AAVCBA1AT). Table 5 reports data obtained (in μg A1AT/mL serum) at day 14 of the study.

TABLE 5 Target Tissue Vector Lung Liver Muscle AAV2/1 ND ND 45 ± 11 AAV2/5 0.6 ± 0.2 ND ND AAV2/8 ND 84 ± 30 ND

AAV vector carried CC10hA1AT minigene for lung specific expression were pseudotyped with capsids of novel AAVs were given to Immune deficient animals (NCR nude) in equal volume (50 μl each of the original preps without dilution) via intratracheal injections as provided in the following table. The vectors were also administered to immune competent animals (C57BL/6) in equal genome copies (1×10¹¹ GC) as shown in the Table 6. (1×10¹¹ GC per animal, C57BL/6, day 14, detection limit ≧0.033 μg/ml). As shown, AAV8 is the best liver transducer.

TABLE 6 μg of A1AT/ml AAV Vector with 1 × 10¹¹ vector 2/1 0.076 ± 0.031 2/2  0.1 ± 0.09 2/5 0.0840.033 2/8 1.92 ± 1.3 

EXAMPLE 6 Model of Hypercholesterolemia

To further assess the affect of rAAV-mediated transgene expression by the AAV2/8 constructs of the invention, a further study was performed.

A. Vector Construction

AAV vectors packaged with AAV8 capsid proteins were constructed using a pseudotyping strategy [Hildinger M, et al., J Virol 2001; 75:6199-6203]. Recombinant AAV genomes with AAV2 inverted terminal repeats (ITR) were packaged by triple transfection of 293 cells with the cis-plasmid, the adenovirus helper plasmid and a chimeric packaging construct, a fusion of the capsids of the novel AAV serotypes with the rep gene of AAV2. The chimeric packaging plasmid was constructed as previously described [Hildinger et al, cited above]. The recombinant vectors were purified by the standard CsCl₂ sedimentation method. To determine the yield TaqMan (Applied Biosystems) analysis was performed using probes and primers targeting the SV40 poly(A) region of the vectors [Gao G P, et al., Hum Gene Ther. 2000 Oct. 10; 11(15):2079-91]. The resulting vectors express the transgene under the control of the human thyroid hormone binding globulin gene promoter (TBG).

B. Animals

LDL receptor deficient mice on the C57B1/6 background were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, Me., USA) and maintained as a breeding colony. Mice were given unrestricted access to water and obtained a high fat Western Diet (high % cholesterol) starting three weeks prior vector injection. At day −7 as well at day 0, blood was obtained via retroorbital bleeds and the lipid profile evaluated. The mice were randomly divided into seven groups. The vector was injected via an intraportal injection as previously described ([Chen S J et al., Mol Therapy 2000; 2(3), 256-261]. Briefly, the mice were anaesthetized with ketamine and xylazine. A laparotomy was performed and the portal vein exposed. Using a 30 g needle the appropriate dose of vector diluted in 100 μl PBS was directly injected into the portal vein. Pressure was applied to the injection site to ensure a stop of the bleeding. The skin wound was closed and draped and the mice carefully monitored for the following day. Weekly bleeds were performed starting at day 14 after liver directed gene transfer to measure blood lipids. Two animals of each group were sacrificed at the timepoints week 6 and week 12 after vector injection to examine atherosclerotic plaque size as well as receptor expression. The remaining mice were sacrificed at week 20 for plaque measurement and determination of transgene expression.

Vector dose N Group 1 AAV2/8-TBG-hLDLr 1 × 10¹² gc 12 Group 2 AAV2/8-TBG-hLDLr 3 × 10¹¹ gc 12 Group 3 AAV2/8-TBG-hLDLr 1 × 10¹¹ gc 12

C. Serum Lipoprotein and Liver Function Analysis

Blood samples were obtained from the retroorbital plexus after a 6 hour fasting period. The serum was separated from the plasma by centrifugation. The amount of plasma lipoproteins and liver transaminases in the serum were detected using an automatized clinical chemistry analyzer (ACE, Schiapparelli Biosystems, Alpha Wassermann)

D. Detection of Transgene Expression

LDL receptor expression was evaluated by immuno-fluorescence staining and Western blotting. For Western Blot frozen liver tissue was homogenized with lysis buffer (20 mM Tris, pH 7.4, 130 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X 100, proteinase inhibitor complete, EDTA-free, Roche, Mannheim, Germany). Protein concentration was determined using the Micro BCA Protein Assay Reagent Kit (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.). 40 μg of protein was resolved on 4-15% Tris-HCl Ready Gels (Biorad, Hercules, Calif.) and transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane (Invitrogen). To generate anti-hLDL receptor antibodies a rabbit was injected intravenously with an AdhLDLr prep (1×10¹³ gc). Four weeks later the rabbit serum was obtained and used for Western Blot. A 1:100 dilution of the serum was used as a primary antibody followed by a HRP-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG and ECL chemiluminescent detection (ECL Western Blot Detection Kit, Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.).

D. Immunocytochemistry

For determination of LDL receptor expression in frozen liver sections immunohistochemistry analyses were performed. 10 um cryostat sections were either fixed in acetone for 5 minutes, or unfixed. Blocking was obtained via a 1 hour incubation period with 10% of goat serum. Sections were then incubated for one hour with the primary antibody at room temperature. A rabbit polyclonal antibody anti-human LDL (Biomedical Technologies Inc., Stoughton, Mass.) was used diluted accordingly to the instructions of the manufacturer. The sections were washed with PBS, and incubated with 1:100 diluted fluorescein goat anti-rabbit IgG (Sigma, St Louis, Mo.). Specimens were finally examined under fluorescence microscope Nikon Microphot-FXA. In all cases, each incubation was followed by extensive washing with PBS. Negative controls consisted of preincubation with PBS, omission of the primary antibody, and substitution of the primary antibody by an isotype-matched non-immune control antibody. The three types of controls mentioned above were performed for each experiment on the same day.

E. Gene Transfer Efficiency

Liver tissue was obtained after sacrificing the mice at the designated time points. The tissue was shock frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80° C. until further processing. DNA was extracted from the liver tissue using a QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN GmbH, Germany) according to the manufacturers protocol. Genome copies of AAV vectors in the liver tissue were evaluated using Taqman analysis using probes and primers against the SV40 poly(A) tail as described above.

F. Atherosclerotic Plaque Measurement

For the quantification of the atherosclerotic plaques in the mouse aorta the mice were anaesthetized (10% ketamine and xylazine, ip), the chest opened and the arterial system perfused with ice-cold phosphate buffered saline through the left ventricle. The aorta was then carefully harvested, slit down along the ventral midline from the aortic arch down to the femoral arteries and fixed in formalin. The lipid-rich atherosclerotic plaques were stained with Sudan IV (Sigma, Germany) and the aorta pinned out flat on a black wax surface. The image was captured with a Sony DXC-960 MD color video camera. The area of the plaque as well as of the complete aortic surface was determined using Phase 3 Imaging Systems (Media Cybernetics).

G. Clearance of I¹²⁵ LDL

Two animals per experimental group were tested. A bolus of I¹²⁵-labeled LDL (generously provided by Dan Rader, Upenn) was infused slowly through the tail vein over a period of 30 sec (1,000,000 counts of [I¹²⁵]-LDL diluted in 100 μl sterile PBS/animal). At time points 3 min, 30 min, 1.5 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr after injection a blood sample was obtained via the retro-orbital plexus. The plasma was separated off from the whole blood and 10 μl plasma counted in the gamma counter. Finally the fractional catabolic rate was calculated from the lipoprotein clearance data.

H. Evaluation of Liver Lipid Accumulation

Oil Red Staining of frozen liver sections was performed to determine lipid accumulation. The frozen liver sections were briefly rinsed in distilled water followed by a 2 minute incubation in absolute propylene glycol. The sections were then stained in oil red solution (0.5% in propylene glycol) for 16 hours followed by counterstaining with Mayer's hematoxylin solution for 30 seconds and mounting in warmed glycerin jelly solution.

For quantification of the liver cholesterol and triglyceride content liver sections were homogenized and incubated in chloroform/methanol (2:1) overnight. After adding of 0.05% H₂SO₄ and centrifugation for 10 minutes, the lower layer of each sample was collected, divided in two aliquots and dried under nitrogen. For the cholesterol measurement the dried lipids of the first aliquot were dissolved in 1% Triton X-100 in chloroform. Once dissolved, the solution was dried under nitrogen. After dissolving the lipids in ddH₂O and incubation for 30 minutes at 37° C. the total cholesterol concentration was measured using a Total Cholesterol Kit (Wako Diagnostics). For the second aliquot the dried lipids were dissolved in alcoholic KOH and incubated at 60° C. for 30 minutes. Then 1M MgCl₂ was added, followed by incubation on ice for 10 minutes and centrifugation at 14,000 rpm for 30 minutes. The supernatant was finally evaluated for triglycerides (Wako Diagnostics).

All of the vectors pseudotyped in an AAV2/8 capsid lowered total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides as compared to the control. These test vectors also corrected phenotype of hypercholesterolemia in a dose-dependent manner. A reduction in plaque area for the AAV2/8 mice was observed in treated mice at the first test (2 months), and the effect was observed to persist over the length of the experiment (6 months).

EXAMPLE 7 Functional Factor IX Expression and Correction of Hemophilia

A. Knock-Out Mice

Functional canine factor IX (FIX) expression was assessed in hemophilia B mice. Vectors with capsids of AAV1, AAV2, AAV5 or AAV8 were constructed to deliver AAV2 5′ ITR—liver-specific promoter [LSP]—canine FIX—woodchuck hepatitis post-regulatory element (WPRE)—AAV2 3′ ITR. The vectors were constructed as described in Wang et al, 2000, Molecular Therapy 2: 154-158), using the appropriate capsids.

Knock-out mice were generated as described in Wang et al, 1997. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 11563-11566. This model closely mimic the phenotypes of hemophilia B in human.

Vectors of different serotypes were delivered as a single intraportal injection into the liver of adult hemophiliac C57B1/6 mice in a dose of 1×10¹¹ GC/mouse for the five different serotypes and a second AAV8 vector was also delivered at 1×10¹⁰ GC/mouse. Control group was injected with 1×10¹¹ GC of AAV2/8 TBG LacZ3. Each group contains 5-10 male and female mice. Mice were bled bi-weekly after vector administration.

1. ELISA

The canine FIX concentration in the mouse plasma was determined by an ELISA assay specific for canine factor IX, performed essentially as described by Axelrod et al, 1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87:5173-5177 with modifications. Sheep anti-canine factor IX (Enzyme Research Laboratories) was used as primary antibody and rabbit anti-canine factor IX ((Enzyme Research Laboratories) was used as secondary antibody. Beginning at two weeks following injection, increased plasma levels of cFIX were detected for all test vectors. The increased levels were sustained at therapeutic levels throughout the length of the experiment, i.e., to 12 weeks. Therapeutic levels are considered to be 5% of normal levels, i.e., at about 250 ng/mL.

The highest levels of expression were observed for the AAV2/8 (at 10¹¹), with sustained superphysiology levels cFIX levels (ten-fold higher than the normal level). Expression levels for AAV2/8 (10¹¹) were approximately 10 fold higher than those observed for AAV2/2 and AAV2/8 (10¹⁰). The lowest expression levels, although still above the therapeutic range, were observed for AAV2/5.

2. In Vitro Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) Assay

Functional factor IX activity in plasma of the FIX knock-out mice was determined by an in vitro activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assay-Mouse blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital plexus into 1/10 volume of citrate buffer. APTT assay was performed as described by Wang et al, 1997, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 11563-11566.

Clotting times by aPTT on plasma samples of all vector injected mice were within the normal range (approximately 60 sec) when measured at two weeks post-injection, and sustained clotting times in the normal or shorter than normal range throughout the study period (12 weeks).

Lowest sustained clotting times were observed in the animals receiving AAV2/8 (10¹¹). By week 12, AAV2/2 also induced clotting times similar to those for AAV2/8. However, this lowered clotting time was not observed for AAV2/2 until week 12, whereas lowered clotting times (in the 25-40 sec range) were observed for AAV2/8 beginning at week two.

Immuno-histochemistry staining on the liver tissues harvested from some of the treated mice is currently being performed. About 70-80% of hepatocytes are stained positive for canine FIX in the mouse injected with AAV2/8.cFIX vector.

B. Hemophilia B Dogs

Dogs that have a point mutation in the catalytic domain of the F.IX gene, which, based on modeling studies, appears to render the protein unstable, suffer from hemophilia B [Evans et al, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:10095-10099). A colony of such dogs has been maintained for more than two decades at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The homeostatic parameters of these doges are well described and include the absence of plasma F.IX antigen, whole blood clotting times in excess of 60 minutes, whereas normal dogs are 6-8 minutes, and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time of 50-80 seconds, whereas normal dogs are 13-28 seconds. These dogs experience recurrent spontaneous hemorrhages. Typically, significant bleeding episodes are successfully managed by the single intravenous infusion of 10 ml/kg of normal canine plasma; occasionally, repeat infusions are required to control bleeding.

Four dogs were injected intraportally with AAV.cFIX according to the schedule below. A first dog received a single injection with AAV2/2.cFIX at a dose of 3.7×10¹¹ genome copies (GC)/kg and was sacrificed at day 665 due to severe spinal hemorrhage. A second dog received a first injection of AAV2/2.cFIX (2.8×10¹¹ GC/kg), followed by a second injection with AAV2/5.cFIX (2.3×10¹³ GC/kg) at day 1180. A third dog received a single injection with AAV2/2.cFIX at a dose of 4.6×10¹² GC/kg. The fourth dog received an injection with AAV2/2.cFIX (2.8×10¹² GC/kg) and an injection at day 995 with AAV2/8.cFIX (5×10¹² GC/kg).

The abdomen of hemophilia dogs were aseptically and surgically opened under general anesthesia and a single infusion of vector was administered into the portal vein. The animals were protected from hemorrhage in the peri-operative period by intravenous administration of normal canine plasma. The dog was sedated, intubated to induce general anesthesia, and the abdomen was shaved and prepped. After the abdomen was opened, the spleen was moved into the operative field. The splenic vein was located and a suture was loosely placed proximal to a small distal incision in the vein. An introduced was rapidly inserted into the vein, then the suture loosened and a 5 F cannula was threaded to an intravenous location near the portal vein threaded to an intravenous location near the portal vein bifurcation. After hemostasis was secured and the catheter balloon was inflated, approximately 5.0 ml of vector diluted in PBS was infused into the portal vein over a 5 minute interval. The vector infusion was followed by a 5.0 ml infusion of saline. The balloon was then deflated, the callula was removed and venous hemostatis was secured. The spleen was then replaced, bleeding vessels were cauterized and the operative wound was closed. The animal was extubated having tolerated the surgical procedure well. Blood samples were analyzed as described. [Wang et al, 2000, Molecular Therapy 2: 154-158]

The results are summarized in the table below. Dog C51, female, was 13.6 kg and 6.5 months old at the time of first injection. Dog C52, male, was 17.6 kg and 6.5 months old at first injection; and 17.2 kg and 45.2 months at second injection. Dog C55, male, was a 19.0 kg and 12.0 months at first injection. Dog D39, female, was a 5.0 kg and 2.8 months at first injection; 22.6 kg and 35.4 months old at the time of the second injection. In the table, GC refers to genome copies of the AAV vectors. WBCT were >60 minutes (except C52=42 min) before injection. Baseline aPTT for C51=98.4 sec, C52=97.7 sec; C55=145.1 sec; D39=97.8 sec. Bleeds post-treatment were spontaneous bleeding episodes happening in hemophilia B dogs post-AAV vector treatment that required treatment with plasma infusion.

Hemophilia B Dogs Injected with rAAV intraportally Vector Dose Total GC Avg WBCT Avg aPTT Avg cFIX Dog Vector (GC/kg) Inject (min) (min) plasma (ng/mL) 1^(st) C51 AAV2- 3.7 × 10¹¹  5 × 10¹² 13.2 ± 2.1 77.5 ± 15.1  3.8 ± 1.0 injection LSP.cFIX C52 AAV2- 2.8 × 10¹¹ 5.0 × 10¹² 16.1 ± 3.5 81.5 ± 17.7  3.7 ± 1.1 LSP.cFIX C55 AAV2- 4.6 × 10¹² 8.7 × 10¹³ 10.2 ± 2.2 46.4 ± 6.1 259.7 ± 28.5 LSP.cFIX WPRE D39 AAV2- 2.8 × 10¹² 1.4 × 10¹³ 11.5 ± 2.6 59.1 ± 6.3  34.4 ± 9.8 LSPcFIX WPRE 2^(nd) C52 AAV2/5- 2.3 × 10¹³ 4.0 × 10¹⁴ 12.9 ± 1.1 41.9 ± 2.7 817.3 ± 102.1 injection LSP.cFIX WPRE 2^(nd) D39 AAV2/8- 5.0 × 10¹² 1.1 × 10¹⁴ 12.6 ± 1.5 656.9 ± 1.1 injection LSP.cFIX WPRE

1. Whole Blood Clotting Time (WBCT)

WBCT following injection with the AAV2/2 vectors were somewhat variable, ranging from about 6.5 min to 30 minutes. WBCT for a normal dog is 6-12 min. Sharp drops in WBCT were observed immediately upon injection with the AAV2/8 or AAV2/5 vectors The sharp drop was also observed in C55 injected with AAV2 (d2=9 min), and for C51 and C52, the early data point for WBCT were not checked. The sharp drop is believed to be due to the dog plasma infusion before and after the surgery. WBCT is an assay very sensitive to low level of FIX, it is not very sensitive to the actual level of FIX (aPTT is more relevant).

2. aPTT Assay

Clotting times by aPTT on plasma samples of all vector injected dogs were variable over the first approximately 700 days, at which time clotting times leveled in the normal range (40-60 sec, normal dog: 24-32 sec). A sharp drop into the normal range was observed following each of the second injections (AAV2/8 or AAV2/5). While clotting times were not sustained in the normal range, clotting times were reduced to levels below those observed prior to the second injection.

For aPTT, normal dogs are 24-32 sec, and hemophilia B dogs are 80-106 sec. For C51 and C52 who received low dose of AAV2.cFIX vector, average aPTT after treatment remain at 77.5 and 81.5 sec, not significantly different from hemophilia B dogs without treatment. Higher dose of AAV2 improved the average aPTT to 59.1 and 46.4 sec, respectively for D39 and C55. After the treatment of AAV2/5, the average aPTT for C52 improved significantly from 81.5 sec to 41.9 sec. And for D39, after the AAV2/8 treatment, the average aPTT improve from 59.1 sec.

3. Canine Factor IX ELISA

cFIX levels were detectable following the first set of injections, albeit below therapeutic levels. Following injection with AAV2/8 and AAV2/5, levels of cFIX rose spiked into the therapeutic range and then leveled off within the therapeutic range (normal is 5 μg/ml in plasma, therapeutic level is 5% of normal level which is 250 ng/ml).

The first three weeks of WBCT, aPTT and cFIX antigen are affected by the dog plasma infusion before and after the surgery. It is hard to conclude the drop of clotting time or the rise of cFIX antigen level is due to the vector or the plasma infusion for the first 3 weeks. However, it is interesting to note that the quick and dramatic rise of cFIX antigen after 2/5 and 2/8 vector injection. This is unique to AAV2/5 and 2/8 injected dogs and could be attributed to AAV2/5 and 2/8 vectors rather than the normal dog plasma infusion, since all dogs received similar amount of normal dog plasma infusion for the surgery. Three days after AAV2/8 injection, the level of cFIX in the plasma of D39 reached 9.5 μg/ml and peaked at 10.4 μg/ml at day 6, twice as much as the normal level (5 μg/ml). The cFIX level gradually decreased to the average of 817 ng/ml (C52, AAV2/5) and 657 ng/ml (D39, AAV2/8). In C52, 3 days after injection of AAV2/5 vector, the cFIX level reached 2.6 μg/ml and peaked at 4.6 μg/ml at day 7. In C55, who received AAV2 vector at the dose similar to that of AAV2/8 injected to D39, peaked only at 2.2 μg/ml at day 3, then gradually dropped and maintained at 5% of normal level of cFIX.

The doses of vector received by C55 (AAV2, 4.6×10¹² GC/kg) and the second injection in D39 (AAV2/8, 5×10¹² GC/kg) were very close. However, the cFIX expression levels raised in D39 by AAV2/8 vector (average 657−34=623 ng/ml, 12.5% of normal level) was 2.5 fold higher than that in C55 (average 259 ng/ml, 5% of normal level). This suggests AAV2/8 is 2.5 fold more potent than AAV2 in dogs injected intraportally with similar dose of vectors. And in the same dog D39, the second injection of two fold higher dose of AAV2/8 dramatically increased the cFIX level from 0.7% to 13.1%, 18.7 fold higher than the first injection. And in C52, the second injection of 2.3×10¹³ GC/ml of AAV2/5 vector resulted in average 817 ng/ml (16.3% of normal level) of cFIX in the plasma. This was only marginally higher (1.3 fold) than the cFIX level raised in D39 by AAV2/8 (average 623 ng/ml, 12.5% of normal level). However, the dose of AAV2/5 injected in C52 was 4.6 fold higher than the dose of AAV2/8 injected in D39. This suggests that AAV2/8 vector is also more potent than AAV2/5 vector in dogs.

The first injection of AAV2 vectors did not block the success of transduction by AAV2/5 and AAV2/8 vectors after the second injection in dogs. Readministration using a different serotype of AAV vector can be used as an approach to treat animals or humans who have been previously exposed to AAV2 or treated with AAV2 vectors.

EXAMPLE 8 Mouse Model of Liver Enzyme Disorder

The AAV2/8 vector generated as described herein was studied for its efficiency in transferring the liver enzyme gene ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) in an accepted animal model for OTC deficiency [X. Ye et al, Pediatric Research, 41(4):527-534 (1997); X. Ye et al, J. Biol. Chem., 271(7):3639-3646 (February 1996)]. The results of this experiment (data not shown) demonstrate that an AAV2/8 vector of the invention carrying the ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) gene was observed to correct OTC deficiency.

EXAMPLE 9 In Vivo Expression of Factor VIII

Three groups of C57BL/6 mice are injected via the portal vein with either 3×10¹¹ genome copies AAV vector carrying the Factor VIII heavy chain (FVIII-HC), 3×10¹¹ genome copies of AAV vector carrying Factor VIII light chain (FVIII-LC), or 3×10¹¹ particles of both AAV-FVIII-HC and AAV-FVIII-LC. In addition, a group of four animals is injected with 3×10¹¹ particles of AAV carrying Factor IX (FIX), which is known to be useful in treatment of hemophilia B. It has been shown that this strain of mice does not elicit an immune response to human FVIII when the gene is delivered to the liver via an adenoviral vector (Connelly et al., Blood 87:4671-4677 [1996]).

These experiments will demonstrate the feasibility of producing biologically active FVIII using two AAV vectors to independently deliver the heavy and light chains of FVIII.

Blood samples are collected in sodium citrate via the retro-orbital plexus at biweekly intervals for the first 2 months and at monthly intervals thereafter for 6 months and at 11 months. Very high levels of FVIII light chain will be expressed in animals injected with AAV-FVIII-LC alone or both vectors.

In order to assess the amount of biologically active human FVIII produced in the animals, a modified ChromZ assay is used. Since this assay detects both human and murine FVIII, the amount of FVIII present in the plasma before and after adsorption to an antibody specific to human FVIII is determined. The amount of FVIII remaining in the plasma after adsorption represents the amount of active murine FVIII and the difference represented the amount of active human FVIII. The modified ChromZ assay will indicate that only those animals injected with both vectors produced biologically active FVIII.

The animals are expected to maintain physiological levels of active protein for more than 11 months, without waning.

All publications cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. While the invention has been described with reference to particularly preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) 8 viral vector comprising an AAV8 capsid having packaged therein a heterologous gene operably linked to regulatory sequences which direct its expression, wherein the heterologous gene encodes a low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr), wherein the AAV8 capsid comprises a vp3 capsid protein having the sequence of aa 203 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2, or a sequence which is at least 95% identical to said sequence of aa 203 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1, wherein the LDLr is human LDLr.
 3. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1, further comprising one or more AAV inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequence from an AAV heterologous to AAV8.
 4. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 3, wherein the one or more AAV ITR is from AAV
 2. 5. A composition comprising the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 6. A host cell containing the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1 in culture.
 7. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1, wherein said AAV8 capsid further comprises a vp1 capsid protein.
 8. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1, wherein said AAV8 capsid further comprises a vp2 capsid protein.
 9. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1, wherein the AAV8 capsid comprises a vp3 capsid protein having the sequence of aa 203 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 10. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1, wherein said adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector further comprises a human thyroid hormone binding globulin (TBG) gene promoter.
 11. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1, wherein said adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector further comprises a polyadenylation (polyA) signal.
 12. A method of delivering a heterologous gene encoding a low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) to a cell, said method comprising the step of contacting the cell with the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim
 1. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector is delivered via intravenous administration.
 14. A method for lowering cholesterol, said method comprising the step of delivering the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 1 to a hepatocyte.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector is delivered via intravenous administration.
 16. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) 8 viral vector comprising an AAV8 capsid having packaged therein a heterologous gene operably linked to regulatory sequences which direct its expression, wherein said heterologous gene encodes a human low density lipoprotein receptor (hLDLr), wherein the AAV8 capsid comprises a vp3 capsid protein having the sequence of aa 203 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2, or a sequence which is at least 95% identical to said sequence of aa 203 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2, said adeno-associated virus (AAV) 8 viral vector further comprising one or more inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequences, a human thyroid hormone binding globulin (TBG) gene promoter and a polyadenylation (polyA) signal.
 17. A composition comprising the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 16 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 18. The adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 16, wherein the AAV8 capsid comprises a vp3 capsid protein having the sequence of aa 203 to 737 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 19. A host cell containing the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 16 in culture.
 20. A method of delivering a heterologous gene encoding a low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) to a cell, said method comprising the step of contacting the cell with the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim
 16. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector is delivered via intravenous administration.
 22. A method for lowering cholesterol, said method comprising the step of delivering the adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector according to claim 16 to a hepatocyte.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 viral vector is delivered via intravenous administration. 